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OF 



GILBERT MOTIER LA FAYETTE. 



By Gen. H. ^. VILLAUME DUCOUDRAY HOLSTEIN, 

it 
Who contributed, under the Jictitious name of Peter Feldviann^ to his liberation 
from, the prisons of Olmufz. 



TRANSLATED EROM THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPT. 



NEW- YORK: 

iPUBLISHED^BY CHARLES WILEY, No. 3 WALL-STREET^ 
Clayton tf Fan Norden, Printers. 

1824. 



2; •v-V*^ 






Southern District of Ncvj-York. ss. 

BE IT REMEM'BERED, That on the sixth day of September, A. D. 1824, 
in the forty-ninth year of the Independence of the United States of America, 
Charles WHey, of the said district, liath deposited in this office the title of a 
book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor,4n ihe words following-, to wit: 

" Memoirs of Gilbert Motier La Fayette. By Gen. H. L. Viilaume Ducou- 
dray Holstein, who contributed, under the fictitious name of Peter Feldraann, 
to his liberation from the prisons of Olmutz. Translated from the French Manu- 
script." 

In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, " An act 
for Ihe encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and 
books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein 
mentioned." And also to an act, entitled, " An act supplementary to an act, 
entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of 
maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during 
the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of 
designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." 

JAMES DILL, 
Clerk of the Southern District of New- York. 



GIFT 

ESTATE OF 

WILLIAM C.'RiVES 

APRIL, 1940 



F&SFAOS. 



\ SHOULD never have thought of writing a biography of 
General La Fayette, had not several of my friends, who 
were aware of the intimacy which had existed between us, 
urged me to the task with such earnest solicitations, that I 
was obliged at last to yield to their request; and this I 
did the less reluctantly, because I knew that I could furnish 
particulars, hitherto unknown, that would not fail to inte- 
rest the friends of La Fayette. 

But the time was short, and the General arrived. I was 
consequently compelled to abridge, and even to omit 
several chapters entirely, and to pass over a great 
number of characteristic anecdotes, and many new and in- 
teresting details, in order to satisfy the impatience of the 
public. 

In preparing the following work, 1 have consulted Mar- 
shall's Life of Washington, the Histories of the Revolu- 
tionary War by Butler, Ramsay, and Mrs. Warren, as well 
as the Memoirs of the Life of General La Fayette, by 
Regnault-Warin, 2 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1824, the History of 
the Principal Events of the Reign of Frederick H. King of 
Prussia, by Segur, 3 vols. Paris, 1800; Historical Memoirs 
and Authentic Details respecting M. de la Fayette, Paris ; 
France, by Lady Morgan, the Edinburgh Review, the An- 
nual Register, with a variety of other publications. 



PREFACE. 

As my intimate acquaintance with the families of the 01- 
mutz prisoners is of such a nature, that the public may rea- 
sonably expect from me much information concerning those 
gentlemen, not hitherto known, I do not hesitate to declare, 
that in case the present work shall pass to a second edition, 
my readers shall be put in possession of a great variety of 
interesting matter, which has been necessarily omitted in 
the present. I venture, however, to hope, that the pub- 
lic will not deem unacceptable this short biographical es- 
say, which, at least, contains many curious details, now for 
the first time made known. It is my earnest entreaty, 
that the present work be received with kindness and indul- 
gence 5 and I feel assured that the reader will keep constantly 
in mind, the difficulty of procuring an immediate and ade- 
quate translation, the haste with which the sheets have been 
hurried through the press, and the great desire of the au- 
thor, to make the world better acquainted with the merits 
of a man, who has honoured him with the title of friend, 
and who is at this instant the object of the universal admi- 
ration of a free, generous, and grateful people. 

H. L. ViLLAUME DUCOUDRAY HOLSTEIN. 

New-Yoi% Sept, 4, 1824. 



XNT210DVCTZ0M'. 



Remarks on the approaching arrival of General La 
Fayette, in America. 

La Fayette, the philanthropist, the firm, undeviating 
friend of liberty and the sacred rights of man, the associate 
and confident of the immortal Washington, is hourly ex- 
pected, by a people for whom he fearlessly hazarded his 
life, and generously poured forth his blood. 

Millions of freemen from every part of the extensive 
territory of the United States, are at this moment offering 
up their ardent prayers for his safe and speedy arrival. 

Every wise and virtuous citizen, every friend of true and 
genuine liberty, will delight to honour this brave, this ex- 
emplary man : thousands of journals of every possible 
description unite to sound his praise, and all do honour to 
themselves in honouring him. 

These unusual preparations, and this enthusiastic unani- 

1, 



Jl INTRODUCTION. 

mity, pervading all ranks, and sexes, and ages, awakening the 
sensibilities of lovely woman, and the eager anticipations of 
earliest infancy, all impatient to welcome the arrival of a 
stranger and a foreigner, have filled me with the most de- 
lightful emotions, have inspired me with the sincerest ad- 
miration, and now compel me to join my feeble voice to the 
joyful tumult of universal acclamation. 

An impartial and almost an unknown observer, but re- 
cently a resident in this beautiful and flourishing city, a sol- 
dier, who has fought for the rights of man in the old world 
and the new, I am utterly unable to withhold my admiration 
of the noble and generous sentiments of regard and love 
which have urged the American people thus to celebrate 
the arrival of a hero, of whose esteem and friendship! am, 
and shall be ever, proud to boast. 

The conduct of the American Congress and Executive, 
of all the general and subordinate authorities, in a word, of 
the whole American people, presents to an admiring world 
the noble and extraordinary spectacle, of the simultaneous 
rising of an immense republic, prepared to greet, to honour, 
and caress, the illustrious native of di foreign soil. Wash- 
ington himself would scarcely have received a warmer and 
more splendid welcome. 

Facts obvious and undeniable like these, cannot surely 
fail to win the affections of every foreigner in the country, 
and to attach him, strongly and for ever, to the government 



INTRODUCTION. ill 

of a nation which confers its recompense in a manner 
which does equal honour to the giver and receiver. 

How truly enviable will be the emotions of my excellent 
friend, when his foot first touches the sacred soil of liberty, 
once the scene of his sacrifices, and the witness of his 
glory ! What delightful moments for his noble and gene- 
rous heart, when he meets again the few companions of his 
arms that now, alas ! are left to greet him 5 as they again 
recall the scenes of other times, when fatigues, and perils, 
and approaching death, could never for one instant quell 
the ardour of their zeal to gain that glorious liberty, which 
became, at last, the well- won recompense of their undaun- 
ted heroism. Never can we honour as we ought those 
illustrious veterans of our glorious Independence, whose 
lives hold forth to the growing generations of America, per- 
petual models of noble emulation. 

The feelings I have endeavoured to express, are expe- 
rienced by thousands in common with myself. Such as 
they are, I give them freely to the world, in the hope that 
they will be kindly appreciated, ard indulgently received. 



1 



CHAPTER I. 



Birth and early life of La Fayette. 

Gilbert Mottie, Marquis De La Fayette, 
was born at Chateau de Chavagnac, on the sixth of 
September, 1757. This Chateau is situated at 
about two leagues distance from Brioude, in what 
was formerly the province of Auvergiie, now the 
department de la Haute Loire. Among the Mar- 
quis's ancestors, Marshal De La Fayette occupies 
a distinguished place in the annals of military fame, 
and Madame De La Fayette, a relation of the Mar- 
shal, is equally well known in the literary history of 
France. 

The inhabitants of Auvergne are remarkable for 
their ardent, firm, and energetic character ; and 
have ever been distinguished for their spirit of enter- 
prise, contempt of danger, and love of independence. 
Of the La Fayettes in particular, the more predo- 
minant characteristics have always been gr^at deci- 
sion and intrepidity of character, combined with 

an ardent and romantic imagination. 

I* 



MEMOIRS OF 



Young Mottie was sent, at seven years of age, to 
the College of Louis Le Grand, at Paris, where he 
received his early education. He was afterwards 
made one of the pages of the Queen of France, and 
at fifteen was enrolled among the Mousquetaires du 
Roi. Here his mild and equable temper soon gained 
him the friendship and esteem of all his comrades. 
Under the Queen's immediate patronage, he rose in a 
short time to the rank of a commissioned officer, a 
favour exclusively reserved for the sons of the most 
distinguished noblemen. 

He married, in 1774, the young and interesting 
Countess Anastasie de Noailles, daughter of the 
Duke of that name. This marriage, to which he 
was induced by various considerations of family 
interest, besides largely augmenting his fortune, 
made him happy in the possession of an amiable, 
virtuous, and noble-hearted woman, of whose cha- 
racter and conduct we shall take occasion hereafter 
to give a more particular account. The Marquis 
was now in possession of an annual income of 
upwards of 200fl000 francs, a sum which, at that 
time, was equal to 200,000 American dollars, at 
the present time. 

Although thus surrounded by the teinptations of 
wealth, and by the enjoyments to which it admi- 
mstered, the mirid of the young Marquis was per- 
petually aspiring to greater and nobler enterprises 



LA FAYETTE. 



and his ardent imagination was soon dissatisfied 
with the luxurious life of the capital and the court. 

^His attention was accordingly drawn to the move- 
ments of the new world, where the attempts of the 
British colonies of North America to secure their 
independence excited in his breast a peculiar interest 
and powerful sympathy. Of these events, which so 
strongly influenced the destinies of the Marquis, we 
propose to make a brief enumeration. 



CHAPTER II. 



Cause of the insurrection of the North American colonies. 
Commencement of hostilities. 



The life of La Fayette is so intimately connected 
with the events of the revolutionary war of North 
America, that the discussion of the one necessarily 
involves the consideration of the other. Notwith- 
standing the powerful opposition of the mother coun- 
try, the entire destitution of all resources, and the abso- 
lute want of external assistance in the first years of the 
revolution, the Colonists were enabled, in the short 
space of seven years, to triumph over a mighty na- 
tion, who affected to regard them as rebellious slaves, 
soon to be reduced to submission and obedience. 

What had been happily begun by the patience 
and perseverance of the /srst heroes of the revolu- 
tion, was finally accomplished and secured by the 
wisdom and virtue of their descendants. The 
United States of America have, in consequence, en- 
joyed very near half a century of unexampled pros- 
perity and happiness, and may now justly boast of 



MEMOIRS OP LA FAYETTE. 9 

being the only people on earth, in the full and un- 
disturbed possession of their political liberties. 

As early as the year 1764, the North American 
colonies began to murmur against the unequal 
bearing of the stamp act, until England reluctantly 
repealed it on the 1 8th of March, 1766. In place 
of this, however, was substituted an increased duty 
on tea, and a tax on paper, glass-ware, and paints^ 
the expenses of collections to be borne by the inhabi- 
tants. In consequence of these exactions, the dis- 
content of the colonies increased to such an alarm- 
ing degree, that the British ministry deemed it ne- 
cessary to resort to compulsory measures, in order 
to quell their growing disaffection. 

Accordingly, on the first of October, 1768, a con- 
siderable body of troops entered Boston, the capi- 
tal of Massachusetts, and at that time the seat of the 
colonial government. A series of arbitrary and 
vexatious measures ensued, until the people were 
driven to the necessity of repelling force by force, 
determined to suffer all possible extremes, rather than 
submit to such ignominious oppression. 

Such was the good sense, general intelligence, 
and disinterested patriotism of the Americans, that 
the authority of the provincial Congress, and of the 
committees of correspondence, was universally re- 
spected, and powerfully supported, in the six months 



10 MEMOIRS OF 

preparatory to the commencement of hostilities; 
and each individual cheerfully contributed his pro- 
portion towards defraying the expenses of the anti- 
cipated war. 

On the 19th of April, 1775, Colonel Smith was 
ordered to proceed secretly and by night, with a 
detachment of light-armed troops, from Boston to 
Concord, and on the following day hostilities com- 
menced at Lexington. 

Shortly after, the provincial Congress met at Phi- 
ladelphia, and the events of the war gradually as- 
sumed a more regular aspect. Troops were levied 
in most of the provinces, and Congress unanimously 
appointed one of the Deputies from Virginia, Com- 
mander-in-chief of the provincial forces. 

General Washington requires noeulogium of mine. 
His name alone is sufficient to insure, wherever it is 
heard, unqualified respect, and unhesitating venera- 
tion. Creating, as it were, every thing from no- 
thing, meeting and surmounting innumerable ob- 
stacles, after a seven years struggle against an al- 
most overwhelming strength, his eventual triumph 
far exceeded the expectations of the world, who 
scarcely dared to anticipate a success, for which 
they offered up to Heaven their most ardent prayers. 
Achievements like these could only be surpassed 
by the closing act of his political career, by which 



LA FAYETTE. 11 

he sacrificed to the liberties of a nation the power 
and the influence he had gained in their acquire- 
ment. 

After long and animated debates, Congress de- 
termined, at the motion of Richard Henry Lee, one 
of the deputies from Virginia, to publish to the 
world a solemn Declaration of their Indepen- 
dence. This manifesto was accordingly prepared by 
Thomas Jeflerson, another of the Virginia deputies, 
and signed by John Hancock, the President of 
Congress, on the fourth of July, 1776. 

Twelve states assented unanimously, and almost 
immediately, to this ever memorable declaration, 
and the thirteenth shortly after acceeded to the mea- 
sures of the rest. 



CHAPTER III. 



Arrival of La Fayette in America; his appointment in the 
army, and services.* 



England was now making vast preparations to 
reduce her colonies to submission by force of arms, 
and the attention of all Europe was directed to 
America; it was generally believed, that she could 
not long resist this overwhelming power. The 
young Marquis La Fayette, in common with all 
patriotic and enlightened Frenchmen, was desirous of 
a reform at home, called for by the imbecility of the 
government, the weakness of the King, the excesses 
of the ministry, the general discontent of all classes, 
the impoverished state of the treasury, and the total 
disregard of morality and religion. Endowed, both 
by nature and education, with a love of liberty and 
philosophy, and inspired with noble sentiments 

* Our readers will excuse us for briefly touching on the principal 
events of the revolution, not immediately connected with the sub- 
ject of these memoirs. It was thought necessary to preserve in 
some measure the chain of events unbroken, the better to explain 
those in which La Fayette was directly concerned. Edilor- 



MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETTE. 13 

siiid a Spirit of chivalry, the Marquis La Fay- 
ette had watched attentively the progress of the 
controversy between the American colonies and the 
mother country, and examined every subject con- 
nected with it. This glorious cause attracted uni- 
versal admiration, and the wishes of all the en- 
lightened and virtuous part of mankind were united 
in its favour. La Fayette did not confine himself 
merely to wishes for its success ; he was among the 
first who personally assisted, and shed their blood 
to promote the establishment of liberty in North 
America. A general peace throughout Europe 
had consigned him to inaction, too inglorious 
for his lofty and warlike spirit. The battles which 
were now fighting in America opened a path equal- 
ly brilliant and delightful to his ambitious spirit, 
which detested British pride and domination. As 
soon, therefore, as he learned that the colonies were 
seeking assistance, he presented himself before the 
American Commissioners, at Paris, and made known 
to them his resolution of taking part in the contest. 
Doctor Franklin soon perceived in this young 
soldier the germ of future greatness, and gladly 
accepted his offer. 

The war was as yet scarcely commenced, when La 
Faj^ette had determined to leave his country for 
America : but shortly after his communication with 
the Commissioners, it was reported in Europe that 



14 MEMOIRS OF 

the American army was reduced to two tbousaiid 
men, and was flying through New-Jerseyj before 
thirty thousand British regular troops. This dis- 
astrous information so completely annihilated the 
small remaining credit which America had in Eu- 
rope, at the commencement of the year 1777, that 
the Commissioners of Congress, at Paris, although 
they had previously encouraged La Fayette's pro- 
ject, could not now procure a single vessel to facili- 
tate his object. They considered, under these cir- 
cumstances, that honour obliged them to dissuade 
him from undertaking, for the present, his perilous 
enterprise. But this was attempted in vain j the 
zeal with which the American cause had inspired 
him, could not be suppressed by these reverses. "To 
this moment," said he to them, with the true impulse 
of patriotic feeling, " 1 have done nothing but admire 
your cause, but now I mean to serve it. The more 
hopeless it is in the public estimation, the more ho- 
nour shall I acquire by espousing its interests. Since 
it is out of your power to procure a vessel, I will 
purchase and equip one myselfj and I take upon 
myself to be the bearer of your despatches to Con- 
gress." 

As from this moment he made no secret of his de- 
sire to witness the triumph of freedom, whose cause 
he had embraced, he had to surmount a host of dif- 
ficulties, before he could put his plan into execution. 



LA FAYETTE. 15 

The court and ministers were early apprized of his 
intention, and deputed some of his friends to dis- 
suade him from it ; they dexterously insinuated that 
his Majesty would be highly displeased, should 
he interfere in an affair of such .moment, and that 
in doing it, he would expose himself to serious 
difliculties. There were, however, others who en- 
tertained nobler sentiments, and who assisted in 
procuring a fine, fast sailing vessel, and a quantity 
of military stores, all which he paid for out of his 
own private funds. But the most trying difficulty 
was yet to be encountered, which was the separation 
from his young and amiable wife. How could 
she be brought to consent, after so short a union, 
to be divided from him whom she loved as ten- 
derly as he loved her ? How could she be pre- 
vailed upon to allow him to undertake a voyage so 
distant and fatiguing ^ how permit him to expose 
himself to the inevitable dangers of war, or how con- 
sent to a parting, perhaps for ever i* In order to avoid 
her opposition as much as possible, La Fayette 
adopted the following plan. He requested the few 
persons who were in tlie secret, and who were fre- 
quently at his house, to preserve silence, unless 
questioned by Madame La Fayette, and then to say 
that he was about to proceed to America on a pri- 
vate mission, and would shortly return. The young 
Marchioness, alarmed at the approaching separa- 



16 MEMOIRS OF 

tlon, was encouraged hy her husband, who confirm- 
ed what his friends had intimated of his speedy re- 
turn; and, in order to avoid a scene, which would 
have been distressing to them both, his departure was 
concealed from her, until he had actually sailed. 
It is a fact well known, that orders were publicly 
issued, to prevent the sailing of the Marquis. But 
the truth is, that the French government connived 
at his undertaking. France, during her long and 
obstinate contest with England, was exhausted, and 
had concluded a peace, solely for the purpose of re- 
newing the war more effectually, at a future period. 
As the natural and ancient enemy of England, she 
saw, with secret satisfaction, that her rival was 
threatened with the loss of one of the most precious 
jewels in her diadem ; and could not but inwardly 
rejoice at a rupture which had been gradually in- 
creasing, between England and her North American 
colonies, since 1764. 

Doctor Franklin, who had been sent to England 
by Congress, to endeavour to settle the differences 
of the colonies, on equitable and honourable condi- 
tions, had at the same time received secret instruc- 
tions in regard to France. He crossed the channel, 
and was, if not publicly, at least secretly, recognised 
by the court of Versailles, where his virtues, his 
wisdom, his amiability, and the important mission with 
which he was intrusted, gained him the admiration 



L.A FAYETTE. 17 

and respect of the better part of the French nation. 
He soon discovered the favourable disposition of the 
minister, Count de Vergennes, who, in the King's 
name, promised him assistance, but gave him to under- 
stand, that the moment for acting openly was not yet 
arrived; that it was requisite that the Americans 
should make greater progress in their struggle, before 
France could declare for them ; that such a mea- 
sure would necessarily lead to a rupture with Eng- 
land, &c. &iC. 

It was, therefore, in consequence of the position 
in which France was placed, that the King and his 
ministers could not openly consent that the Marquis 
La Fayette, who held a post in the royal household, 
should join the rebels, as they were termed ; on the 
contrary, they were constrained to adopt pubKc 
measures to deceive the spies of the British cabinet, 
who, in the machiavelian language of the present 
age, are styled ambassadors, while in fact his under- 
taking was secretly favoured, or, at all events, was 
not opposed. 

Whoever is acquainted with the strict police of 
the old government of France, under Louis XV. 
and XVI., will readily believe that it was utterly 
impossible for any individual whatever, and much 
less for the Marquis La Fayette, to embark secretly, 
if the government had seriously wished to detain 
him. 

2* 



18 MEMOIRS OF 

The Marqnis La Fayette landed on the 19th of 
April, 1777, at Charleston, South Carolina, whence 
he immediately proceeded to Philadelphia, where 
Congress was then in session, and delivered to them the 
despatches and letters of recommendation which the 
American commissioners, residing at Paris, had in- 
trusted to his charge. On presenting himself before 
this body, he said to them, " I am come to request 
two favours of this house: the one is to serve in 
your army in the capacity of a private volunteer : 
the other, to receive no pay." 

Congress, struck with astonishment at such noble 
sentiments in a young foreigner, who had come re- 
commended in a manner as warm as it was honour-, 
able, conferred upon him the brevet rank of Major 
General in the American army, accompanied by a 
resolution to the following effect : " Whereas, the 
Marquis La Fayette, in consequence of his ardent 
zeal for the cause of liberty in which the United 
States are engaged, has left his family and friends, 
and crossed the ocean at his own expense, to offer 
his services to the said States, without wishing to 
accept of any pension or pay whatever, and as he 
earnestly desires to engage in our cause. Congress 
have resolved, 

" That his services be accepted, and that, in con- 
sideration of his patriotism, his family, and illustrious 
relaifoos, he shall hold the rank and commission of 
Major General in the army of the United States," 



LA PAYETTE. 19 

La Fayette, thus, at the age of twenty years, risk- 
ed the loss of a large fortune, left his country, se- 
parated himself from his beloved wife, relations, and 
numberless friends, in a word, every thing which 
could attach a young man of wealth and noble fa- 
mily to life and to his country. But this country 
was neither free, nor striving to be free; his life 
glided along without glory or peril ; his elevated 
and intrepid soul languished in inactivity; he wished 
to change the scene, and be the fearless and intrepid 
warrior among the enemies of tyranny, and the sup- 
port of the cause of liberty, or to perish gloriously 
in the attempt. 

Such was La Fayette at twenty years of age; 
such will he be found in the course of these memoirs, 
always faithful, a true Frenchman, a great and 
generous patriot. He instantly set out to join the 
army and his commander, who became his father 
and his friend. 

Washington read in his countenance, and ob- 
served in his modest confidence, the sure presage 
of his future success ; and he felt, from that moment, 
the tenderest regard for his welfare, called hrm his 
son, and admitted him into his family. General La 
Fayette would not as yet accept any commission, 
nor receive any pay ; and when Washington urged 
him to take that rank in the army which Congress 
had conferred upon him, the young Marquis mo- 



X 



20 MEMOIRS OF 

destly answered, " that he was not as yet capable 
of discharging the duties of such a post; that he must 
begin by being instructed himself, and by learning 
to obey, before he took upon himself to command.' 
This reply increased the regard of the Command- 
er-in-chief, and the affection of all his comrades. 

The young Marquis, on his arrival at the camp, 
examined every thing with the greatest attention, 
conversed with and questioned the officers and sol- 
diers, joined in their labours, accepted the frequent 
invitations he received, and acquired many friends 
by his mild, frank, easy, and prepossessing manners 
and generosity. 

Washington, who loved him from the first mo- 
ment of their acquaintance, soon became acquainted 
with all the amiable actions of his adopted son, and 
sometimes reproved him for his excessive liberalit}', 
though in reality charmed with his noble conduct. 

The Marquis did not stop here, for, delighted with 
the bravery of his new companions in arms, he sent 
General Moultrie, who was at that time much in 
want, uniforms and complete equipments for one 
hundred and fifty of his soldiers. 

General Washington, who had been apprized of 
the expected arrival of Admiral Howe with a fleet 
and cinsiderable reinforcements from England, was 
much embarrassed on account of the great delay 



LA PAYETTE. 21 

hi forwarding of ammunitions of every kind, of 
which his army was in the utmost need. 

La Fayette, understanding this, gave Washington ^ 
60,000 francs, to procure requisite supplies. Wash- 
ington, much affected by such generosity, with tears 
of joy embraced his son. He was thereby enabled 
to break up his camp and march south, in order to 
effect a junction with General Greene at New- York. 

General Howe, with his fleet of two hundred and 
fifty ships, now set sail from Staten Island, with the 
ostensible motive of attacking Boston, in the hope 
of diverting the continental troops to that quarter, 
while his real intention was to surprise Philadel- 
phia, and make himself master of the Delaware 
without loss. 

He consequently made use of every means in his 
power to deceive the vigilance of General Washing- 
ton, who, not regarding reports which were assidu- 
ously circulated, steadily watched the movements of 
the fleet, which, from contrary winds, was a long time 
in effecting its object. As soon as he learned that the 
enemy had entered the Chesapeake, and had efiected 
a landing near the Elk Ferry, he rapidly advanced 
to cover Philadelphia. Intelligence was instantly 
despatched to Congress of the enemy's intention. As 
the British were obliged to cross Elk and Brandy- 
wine rivers to reach Philadelphia, the American 



22 MEMOIRS OF 

General posted himself in such a manner as to cover 
the capital, and to dispute the passage of Brandy- 
wine, near Chad's fort. La Fayette was at this 
time with him; and on the 11th of September, a 
general engagement took place at Chad's fort, not 
far from Brandywine. The battle was obstinate 
and bloody, and the Americans were at last forced 
to retreat ; but it was by no means so decisive or 
disastrous as the English pretended. However, this 
victory augmented the number of partisans of the 
British throughout all parts of Pennsylvania, which 
greatly facilitated General Howe's plans. There 
were a number of officers wounded in this affair ; 
among the rest. General La Fayette. 

The brigade, animated by his example, made a 
vigorous charge on the British, but was repulsed. 
He tried in vain to rally them again, and to lead 
them to the charge ; and although he had received 
a ball in the leg, he would not consent to alight 
from his horse to have his wound dressed. He 
continued at his post during the whole battle, and 
distinguished himself by his courage and coolness. 
He was, after the battle, conveyed to Philadelphia, 
but was soon obliged to retire for safety to the 
mountains. The Polish Count Pulaski, the same 
who carried off King Stanislaus from the midst of 
his capital, distinguished himself in this engage- 
mentj and was promoted by Congress to the rank of 



LA FAYETTK. 23 

Commander of the Cavalry, and Brigadier General. 
M. De Coudray, a French officer of high rank and 
talents, an enthusiast in the cause of liberty, arrived 
in the United States at this period , he was unfortu- 
nately drowned, endeavouring to ford the Schuyl- 
kill. The celebrated Kosciusko, a Polish noble- 
man, arrived soon after ; he possessed the friend- 
ship of General La Fayette, and was esteemed by 
all who knew him. 

General Washington withdrew to Chester, where 
he rallied his army, and made preparations to attack 
the enemy again, but General Howe avoided a bat- 
tle, and advanced by forced marches towards Phila- 
delphia, where he arrived on the 26th of September. 
Congress had retired the evening previous to Lan- 
caster, and afterwards removed to Yorktown. 

La Fayette, who still served as a volunteer, impa- 
tient to be again in the field, would not wait till his 
wound was healed, but set out to join General 
Greene in New-Jersey ; where, obtaining the com- 
mand of a body of militia, he, together with Colonel 
Butler, who had about the same number of a rifle 
corps under him, advanced to reconnoitre the ene- 
my's position : on their route, they fell in with a 
detachment, consisting of about 300 English and 
Hessian regular troops. An action instantly took 
place, in which the British wrere totally routed, 
with a loss of twenty or thirty killed, and a great 



24 MEMOIRS OF 

number wounded : they were driven qult^ into their 
camp. General Greene, speaking of this encoun- 
ter, said, " The Marquis seemed to search for dan- 
ger, and was charmed with the behaviour of his 
men." " 1 found the riflemen," said La Fayette, in 
his letter to Washington, " superior even to their own 
high reputation, and the militia above all expecta- 
tions I could have formed of them." 

Washington transmitted to Congress, under his 
own hand, an account of this victory, and La Fay- 
ette was promoted to the command of a division, 
consisting of 1200 young men, which shortly after- 
wards was increased to two thousand, the flower of 
the American army, whom the General formed and 
disciplined himself. He scarcely allowed himself 
time necessary for sleep and refreshment, so zealous 
was he in discharging the duties of his office. 

He has declared to me, that he never felt himself 
so truly happy as when surrounded by his friends, 
meaning those who were under his immediate com- 
mand, and by whom he was unusually beloved and 
respected. It was on this occasion, that his liberal- 
ity had so reduced his funds, that he was obliged to 
write to France to procure supplies. One day, 
while he was inspecting the camp, he perceived a 
man miserably dressed, seated at the foot of a tree, 
his face covered with his hands, and elbows resting 
on his knees, so profoundly immersed in deep me- 



LA FAYETTE. 2,5 

iancholy, that he did not perceive the approach of the 
General, who stopped some minutes to observe him, 
and hearing him sigh, he inquired the cause of his 
grief, with a tone of voice and sweetness peculiar 
to himself. The man informed him that he had re- 
cently joined the army, and had left a young wife 
and two little children, who depended entirely on 
his industry for support, and that the forlorn condi- 
tion of his family did not allow him a moment's 
peace. The General inquired his address, and told 
him not to distress himself, that his family should be 
provided for — which promise was faithfully kept. 

A month after, when his new corps had become a 
little disciplined, he presented each of the officers of 
his division with an elegant sword and belt, and 
clothed, armed and equipped his 2,000 soldiers at his 
own expense. 

The situation of the revolutionary army became 
every day more critical. The inhabitants of Penn- 
sylvania were dissatisfied, and there existed through- 
out the states two very formidable parties, the 
Tories and the Whigs : among the former were 
to be found a great number of families distinguish- 
ed b}' their birth and fortune, who absolutely refu- 
sed to assist the government, or to join the patriot 
army. Besides these, the sect called Quakers, who 
were wealthy, influential men in Pennsylvania, about 
this period, almost openly declared themselves hos- 

3 



26 MEMOIRS OF 

tile to the American cause. Their opposition rose 
to such a height, that Congress was obliged to cause 
their chief leaders to be arrested and confined ; and 
others were transported to Virginia, lest their per- 
nicious influence might extend itself. 

In addition to these political dissensions, were the 
partial defeats which the patriots experienced, the 
loss of the capital, the delay in the recruiting of the 
regular army, the difficulties in obtaining ammuni- 
tion, which proceeded, in a great degree, from a spi- 
rit of monopoly and avarice, which had, unfortunate- 
ly, already begun to show itself in America. All 
these causes united, were highly detrimental to the 
operations of Congress and the army. 

On the other hand. Great Britain possessed pow- 
erful resources ; her government, army, and parti- 
sans, had every reason to flatter themselves that the 
war would be speedily terminated in their favour. 
The English vvere masters of the capital. General 
Clinton was at the head of an army at New-York ; 
and General Vaughan, stationed on the banks of the 
North river, had troops under his command, suffi- 
cient to keep quiet the inhabijtants of both sides of 
the river, as well as those in the adjacent countryc 
A. strong detachment of the British occupied New- 
port. Colonel Losbourg, with a brigade of Hes- 
gians, who kept up a chain of communication with 
thelatter place, overran ttie neighbourhood, pillaging 



LA FAYETTE. 27 

and burning without mercy the villages in Rhode 
island. 

Notwithstanding the very precarious and forlorn 
aspect of the American cause, neither Congress nor 
the states were intimidated. General Washington 
and his gallant army, now considerably diminished 
in numbers, still kept the enemy so completely in 
check, that it became impossible for them to under- 
take any thing decisive, up to the period of going 
into winter quarters A few days after the occupa- 
tion of Philadelphia, the Americans, who hud been 
reinforced by 2,500 men, attacked the Royalists in 
their camp, at Germantown, six miles from Philadel- 
phia, where all the principal corps of the enemy 
were assembled. 

The attack was unexpected, and the movements 
rapid 5 the whole was conducted with courajse and 
energy, but the enemy defended themselves bravely, 
and the combat was long and obstinately contested. 
For some time the Americans had the advantage, 
but were ultimately forced to retire, after leaving a 
great number dead on the field, and among the rest 
their commander. General Nash. 

General Howe, aware of the importance of a 
water communication, endeavoured to open the 
passage of the Delaware down to its mouth, in order 
to receive supplies by this means. But the Ameri- 
<ians defeated his object, by two rows of chevaux de 



28 MEMOIRS OF 

frise, and galleys, and fire ships, which they maiii- 
tained upon the river, and also by fortified posts 
erected along its banks. Among these Red Bank 
was the most important. It was here that the Ame- 
ricans had an opportunity of revenging themselves 
for the repulse at Germantown. 

Colonel Donop crossed the Delaware at the head 
of 1,500 Hessians, and marched to the attack of the 
redoubts at Red Bank. General Greene, of Rhode 
Island, who defended them, refused to surrender. 
An attempt to carr}^ them by storm was made by 
the Hessians, but they were repulsed with immense 
loss ; Colonel Donop himself being mortally wound- 
ed and made prisoner, together with many other 
officers of his corps ; the rest fled precipitately, and 
only escaped under cover of the night. Red Bank 
was the key of all the other posts on the river; and 
its preservation was owing to the bravery and cool- 
ness of General Greene, and the men under his 
command, who received great credit for their con- 
duct. Congress expressed their approbation of their 
gallant behaviour, and presented General Greene 
with a very elegant sword. 

After the affair at Red Bank, Washington would 
never risk an engagement with an enemy who was, 
in numbers and discipline, greatly his superior. 
The English General again attempted to carry into 
execution his plan of opening the passage of the 
Delaware, and directed an attack to be made on the 



LA FAYETTE, 29 

fortified post of Mud-Island, which the Americans 
were compelled to abandon, after having exposed 
themselves to almost utter extermination from the 
heavy cannonade of several British ships. The 
garrison set fire to every thing they conceived 
might prove useful to the enemy, and retired. 

In the sanguinary and obstinate conflicts to which 
the attempt to open the Delaware gave rise, the 
English lost two ships of the line; but the loss on 
the part of the Americans was much more conside- 
rable. 

The navigation of the Delaware was at length 
Qpened, and the English took up their winter quar- 
ters at Philadelphia, where they received their sup- 
plies by water. 

General Howe, after endeavouring to force the 
Americans to give battle, suddenly returned to Phi- 
ladelphia, without accomplishing any thing of im- 
portance. • 

The result of this campaign, which had cost so 
much blood and treasure, amounted only to the pos- 
session of a city, abandoned by the greater part of 
its inhabitants, and the submission of the country 
for twenty miles round. 

The English, who had flattered themselves that 
they could easily accomplish the destruction of 
General Washington and his army, were astonished 
when informed of the little success which attended 

3* 



30 MEMOIRS OF 

all their united efforts, both by sea and land. What 
an ignominious lesson for those haughty islanders, 
who designated the Commander-in-chief by the title 
of Mr. Washington,'^ and termed all the Americans 
insurgents and rebels, to find themselves comp3l}ed 
to allow this same Mr. Washington and his handful, 
of rebels, to encaiirp themselves at the short dis- 
tance of twenty-five miles from Philadelphia, at a 
place called Valley Forge, and this, in the course 
of December of the same year. When we consider 
that the feeble army of the Americans was very 
ill provided with tents, that it was destitute of pro- 
visions, that the greater part of the soldiers wei^e 
barefooted, had neither blankets, nor even uniform 
or clothing, we are astonished to find that such an 
army took up its vvinter quarters in log houses, and 
that it should have remained there throughout the 
winter, despising dangers, fatigues, privations, and 
miseries of every kind. But our surprise is in- 
creased, when we remember that in this manner it 
approached an enemy far superior in number, and 
supplied with ammunition of every sort. 

Indeed, it was absolutely necessary for Generals 
Washington and La Fayette, as well as all the other 

* Admiral Lord Howe and his brother Sir William, shortly after 
tlifiir junction at Sandy Hook, (July, 1777,) despatched two letters, 
one after the other, addressed to George Washington, Esquire, 
which were very properly returned unopened. 



LA. FAYETTE. 31 

American officers, to maintain at least the appearance 
of cheerfulness. They accordingly mixed in all the 
pastimes of the army, and made every sacrifice 
imaginable, in order to amuse the soldiers. Gene- 
ral La Fayette, at his own expense, caused a 
large quantity of articles to be bought, of which 
the army stood in need. General Washington, for 
the purpose of enlivening the camp, invited his fady 
to come and take part in their festivities ; the 
rest of the officers did the same ; so that in a short 
time the interior of the American camp exhibited a 
scene where joy and gayety buried all past and pre- 
sent sufierings in oblivion. These patriotic women 
encouraged their husbands and lovers in their noble 
enterprise, and exerted themselves to the utmost to 
conceal from them the uneasiness and grief, which 
their approaching separation, and the dangers which 
awaited them, excited, in order that sorrow should 
not overcloud this transient enjoyment of their so- 
ciety. Indeed, the citizens of the ancient republics 
of Rome and Greece could not surpass, in courage, 
love of cojantry, resignation, and the sublimer vir- 
tues, these new heroes of the American republic. 

The resignation and patience of this little army 
surmounted every difficulty. In the midst of penu- 
ry, hunger, and extreme cold, it patiently waited 
for supplies, which arrived but very slowly, not- 
withstanding all the exertions made by the aiuhori- 



32 MEMOIRS OF 

ties of tlie states. The commissary department was 
so badly managed, and want of horses and car- 
riages was so great, that the soldiers constructed 
little wagons which they could manage themselves, 
while others carried fuel and provisions on their 
shoulders. 

General Washington informed the commissioners 
deputed by Congress to wait upon him, and to ex- 
amine personally the situation of [\i«^ army, that 
several brigades had been for days without meatj 
and that the soldiers had frequently come themr 
selves to his quarters to acquaint him with their 
wants ; that at one period the last ration in the comr 
missary's possession had been delivered and con- 
sumed ; and that, not possessing materials proper to 
raise the barracks from the earth, the damp which 
struck through their straw beds, and the foul air 
they breathed, was occasioning excessive mortality 
among the soldiers. Nothing, indeed, observed 
one of the commissioners to Congress, could exceed 
their sufferings, except the patience with which the 
army supported them. 

Although the American army continued in this 
wretched condition from December till May, the 
enemy never made a single attack upon them in all 
that time. 

It required all the energy of soul and high and nobl^ 
qualities, which at all times distinguished Washing- 



LA FAYETTE. 33 

ton, to support him under these accumulated diffi- 
culties ; besides which, he had to contend with secret 
enemies, who either feared or envied him. The ap- 
parent indifference with which he regarded these 
intrigues, enabled him to triumph oyer them ; and 
they and their supporters have long since sunk into 
merited oblivion. His moderation towards the dis- 
affected inhabitants, for which he was then blamed 
by the other party, brought over a vast number to 
his side. Admiration of his virtues won many, who 
rendered him great services. It was at such mo- 
ments of difficulty and danger, that he would un- 
bosom himself to his beloved La Fayette, from 
whom he kept no secrets. 

Many leading men expressed fears, that Washing- 
ton, after he had freed America from English fet- 
ters, would become its enslaver in his own person ; 
and his authority was limited in consequence of 
these unworthy suspicions. La Fayette was very 
active, and used every means in his power to allay 
them. His own calmness and disinterestedness, and 
his acknowledged worth, gave him much influence 
over the persons who entertained such sentiments, 
and his exertions contributed greatly towards the re~ 
establishment of affairs, which were beginning to 
suffer from disunion and jealousies. 

The vast frontiers of the north were guarded by 
only 1,000 men, who w^re, in no respect, a match 



34 MEMOIRS OF LAYFETTE. 

for the regulars and militia of the enemy, to say 
nothing of the savages, those feithful allies of civi- 
lized England. On the other hand, Washington's 
army was much reduced, and the greater part were 
still sick ; and, with such forces, he had to oppose 
18,000 soldiers, fully armed and equipped, under 
the command of an experienced leader. Notwith- 
standing all these disadvantages, he had chosen so 
commanding a position, that the enemy never ven- 
tured to attack him in his winter quarters at Valley 
Forge. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Campaign qf 1778. — Departure of General La Fayette ibr 
France. — His return to the United States. 



In describing the events of the revolutionary war, 
we shall principally confine ourselves to those in 
which General La Fayette was actively concerned; 
the rest we consider as the province of the general 
historian. 

In the beginning of the campaign of 1778, La 
Fayette was sent by General V/ashington to Albany, 
whfere an army was collecting, for the purpose of 
attempting the conquest of the Canadas. The plan 
of the contemplated enterprise, originally suggested 
by La Fayette himself, was to pass the lakes on the 
ice, and to seize on Montreal and St. Jean. The 
obstacles appearing almost insurmountable, he pro- 
posed a variety of expedients, calculated to over- 
come them ; but, on his arrival at Albany, he found 
neither the number of men, provisions, nor ammuni- 
tion, which he had expected. The dilatory move- 
ments of the agents of this operation defeated its 
success, for a thaw supervened; and La Fayette, 



36 MEMOIRS OF 

though but twenty years of age, possessed suffi- 
cient self-control to withstand temptations so flat- 
tering to a young and gallant ofl^cer, in the dan- 
gerous possession of independent command. The 
rectitude of his principles, and the soundness of his 
judgment, would not allow him to be carried away 
by the love of glory, under circumstances in which 
a blind precipitation would have materially injured 
the cause he had so zealously espoused. He was 
fully aware, that if he advanced, the army under his 
command would be exposed to a hazard, similar to 
that which resulted in the capture of Geiferal Bur- 
goyne; and, accordingly, with all the wisdom and 
discretion of an experienced veteran, he abandoned 
the expedition ; and, very soon after, received the 
thanks of Congress, who acknowledged the pru- 
dence and propriety of his conduct. 

About this time, France received the news of the 
capitulation of the entire army of General Bur- 
goyne, to General Gates, at Saratoga, on the 17th 
of October, 1777. She now was induced to con- 
ceive very sanguine hopes- of the ultimate success 
of the American revolution, and deemed it expe- 
dient to espouse and assist the cause of the young 
Republic. In conformity with these views, a treaty 
of alliance, amity, and cooimerce, was concluded at 
Paris, on the 6th of February, 1778, between the 
French Minister, Count de Vergennes, on the part 



LA FAYETTE. 37 

of France, and Dr. Franklin, Arthur Lee, and Silas 
Deane, on the part of the United States. These 
three commissioners were then immediately present- 
ed to the King of France, and Dr. Franklin was 
accredited as Minister plenipotentiary of the United 
States to the court of France. 

La Fayette, in his letter to his friends in France, 
had constantly given very favourable accounts of 
the progress of the American cause ; and these had 
always an obvious influence on the proceedings of 
the French court, contributing, in no small degree, 
to bring about a conclusion of this negotiation, 
which had now been pending since December, 1776. 
He was among the first who received the news of 
the treaty, and could not deny himself the pleasure 
of being the personal bearer of this agreeable intel- 
ligence to the Commander-in-chief. As soon as it 
became generally known throughout the camp, the 
most lively demonstrations of joy ensued ; and our 
young hero was surrounded by crowds, unable to 
express the aflectiouate regard with which his con- 
duct had inspired them. General Washington as- 
sembled the brigades, and public thanksgivings 
were everywhere offered up to Heaven, in dis- 
courses adapted to the occasion. The camp re- 
sounded with the joyful discharge of cannon, and at 
a signal given, the whole army cried out at once, 
L6ng live the King of France ! In the ardour of 

4 



38 MEMOIRS OF 

their joy, every effort was now made by the peopk 
to bring in their respective quotas, and to supply 
the army with the requisite necessaries. The con- 
duct of the state of Pennsylvania, on this occasion, 
deserves particular commendation. 

A subscription was set on foot in Philadelphia, by 
which a large sum of money was collected, and re- 
served as a fund for the encouragement of the re- 
cruiting service, and designed, at the same time, to 
reward such as should distinguish themselves in their 
efforts to fill up the numbers of the army. 

A society was also formed, which collected, by 
subscription, a stock of 189,000 pounds sterling, for 
the purpose of provisioning the army. The pat- 
riotism of the ladies of Philadelphia was particular- 
ly remarkable on this occasion. They establish- 
ed themselves into contribution societies; an ar- 
rangement nvhich was soon imitated by the rest of 
the state, and upwards of 150,000 dollars were thus 
collected, and forwarded to the army. Many of 
them contributed their most valuable jewels, to assist 
in supplying the wants of the troops ; and 1 am 
conlident, that their highly laudable' example will 
not be lost on the patriotic females of our own 
day, whenever the occasion may present itself. I 
cannot omit to mention the heroic conduct of Emelia 
Geiger, a young lady, who voluntarily offered to 
General Greene to be the bearer of his order to Gene- 



LA FAYETTE. 39 

rul Sumpter, requiring that officer to join lilm imme- 
diately, for the purpose of attacking Lord Rawdon, 
who had just effected a division of his forces. Her 
proposal was accepted, and she had actually travel- 
led from Ninety Six to the borders of the Wateree, 
when she unfortunately fell in with a party of Eng- 
lish troops. She had first, however, sufficient time 
and presence of mind, to swallow the note which 
General Greene had written to General Sumpter; 
and as, upon examination, nothing suspicious was 
discovered, she wa& allowed to proceed. She finally 
reached in safety the quarters of General Sumpter, to 
whom she communicated the order, having taken the 
precaution to require from General Greene, verbally^ 
the substance of the note. 

In May, 1778, General Howe was succeeded in the 
command of the British army by General Clinton, 
who gave, on the 18th of the month, a brilliant en- 
tertainment, which lasted twelve hours. 

General Washington, made acquainted with this 
fact, issued his orders to La Fayette to proceed from 
his head quarters, at Valley Forge, with a view to 
annoy the enemy, then in Philadelphia. At the head 
of 2,500 men, he accordingly crossed the Schuylkill, 
and occupied a position twelve miles in advance of 
the American camp, on Beacon Hill, where he pass- 
ed the night, in order to observe the enemy's move- 
ment?, and take advantage of any favourable opppr- 



40 MEMOIRS OF 

tunity that might present itself. As soon as Gene* 
ral Clinton was informed of this movement, he des- 
patched, on the night of the 19th, General Grant, 
with 3,000 men, and several field pieces, with in- 
structions to surprise the Marquis, and, if possible, 
to cut off his retreat. The English General, by a 
circuitous route, took a position about two miles in 
the rear of La Fayette, and, at the same time, a nu- 
merous body of troops was ordered to advance from 
Philadelphia, to attack him in front. General 
Grant, having now effected his encampment, con- 
sidered his success as certain ; and neglecting pre- 
viously to secure Matron Fort, a post situated on 
the Schuylkill, he advanced rapidly and boldly to 
attack the American army. But La Fayette, 
aware of his design, filed off his detachment with so 
much order and despatch, as to gain Matron Fort, 
about a mile distant ; and passed the river before the 
enemy could reach him. This retreat, which would 
have done honour to a far more experienced gene- 
ral, frustrated the intentions of the enemy, and sa- 
ved the detachment from inevitable defeat. As the 
loss of this army would have had a very pernicious 
Influence on the American cause, General Wash- 
ington was highly gratified with the address and 
management of La Fayette, and received him with 
every demonstration of satisfaction. 

On the fourth of June, the Earl of Carlisle, Mr. 



LA FAYETTE. 4-1 

Eden, and Governor Johnstone, arrived from Eng- 
land, with authority, as the king's commissioners, to 
negotiate a peace between Great Britain and America. 
The well known Dr. Ferguson was the secretary of 
this commission. The overtures of England were 
rejected, on the ITth of June, by the American Con- 
gress, who exhibited, throughout the whole progress 
of these negotiations, the utmost dignity, courage, 
and decision. 

The English ministerial despatches contained 
several offensive insinuations respecting the inten- 
tions and policy of France, which not only met with 
the pointed disapprobation of the American people, 
but exasperated the young Marquis to such a degree, 
that as soon as he heard of them, he conceived him- 
self bound in honour to call Lord Carlisle, the 
President of the Board of Commissioners, to a per- 
sonal rencontre, and left to him the choice of arms. 

This procedure, which on any other occasion^ 
would have been regarded as the bravado of an in- 
discreet young man, was not altogether without its 
use. The Americans were not yet well acquainted 
with the character of the French ; they had been 
habituated, by the prejudices of education, to 
look upon them as men much inferior to the Eng- 
lish, in personal courage ; and it was well enough to 
show that a Frenchman was not at all afraid to 
meet an Englishman on equal terms. It contribu- 

4* 



42 MEMOIRS OF 

ted, also, to diminish, in some sort, the importance 
of the commissioners in the eyes of the common 
people, and give them a higher idea of the prowess 
and attachment of their new allies. The Marquis 
was always, and deserved to be, a favourite with the 
Americans ; they never forgot, that at a time when 
the powers of Europe refused to furnish them any 
assistance whatever. La Fayette had left his na- 
tive country and his amiable wife, to encounter, in 
their defence, hazard and hardships innumerable. 
The readiness he now exhibited to expose his life in 
every shape, served greatly to increase his popu- 
larity ; and the coolest and most circumspect, saw- 
nothing in his conduct but the natural ardour of a 
young soldier, impatient to gain a name in arms, and 
desirous of repelling and revenging an insult wan- 
tonly offered to his country. 

The irregularity of the procedure was, how- 
ever, sufficiently obvious, and it was agreed that 
Lord Carlisle could not, as commissioner, accept 
the challenge, although it was acknowledged that 
the Marquis was called upon to send it. It was 
accordingly refused ; and this was all that was ex- 
pected, or all that was required. 

As information had been received, that France 
would shortly send a body of auxiliary forces to 
America, the English commissioners, fearful of 
the event, despatched Mr. Eden, with instructions 



I.A FAYETTE. 43 

to General Clinton to evacuate Philadelphia forth- 
with, with all his troops, and to fall back to New- 
York without a moment's delay. * 

The British army accordingly evacuated Phila- 
delphia, passed the Delaware, and proceeded through 
the state of New-Jersey. Having ascertained the 
intentions of the enemy. General Washington or- 
dered the brigade of General Maxwell to co-operate 
with the New-Jersey militia; at the same time, 
however, to allow the main body of the army to at- 
tack the enemy in the rear. The English, encum- 
bered with baggage wagons and an enormous train 
of artillery, and annoyed by the skirmishers of 
Maxwell, were considerably retarded in their march. 
The American troops then passed the Delaware to 
await the arrival of the enemy, and 600 men were 
despatched to reinforce Maxwell's brigade. Wash^ 
ington halted in the neighbourhood of Princeton, 
and demanded in writing the opinions of his 
general officers, as to the expediency of hazarding 
an engagement. The majority were against it, but 
thought it advisable to send a detachment of 1,500 
men, to harass the rear guard and left wing of the 
enemy, and in other respects act according to cir- 

* Shortly after the ratification of the treaty of alliance, France 
sent to America a squadron under the command of Count d'Es- 
taing, which left Toulon on the 13th of April, 1718, and arrived at 
the mouth of the Delaware, on the 8th of July enswing. 



44 MEMOIRS OF 

cumstances. In conformity with this opinion, Geu^? 
ral Scott was put at the head of the detachment; 
When General Clinton had arrived at Allentown, 
he determined to abandon the direct route across 
Staten Island, and to pursue the sea shore to Sandy 
Hook. As soon as Washington was informed that 
the enemy, in prosecution of this plan, were advan- 
cing toward Monmouth Court-house, he put 1,000 
men under the command of General Wayne, and. on 
the refusal of General Lee, he ordered La Fayette 
to accompany the detachment, and to take the com- 
mand of all troops despatched on particular servi- 
ces, with instructions to watch a favourable opportu- 
nity to fall upon the enemy's rear guard. The main 
body of the array followed to support him, and reach- 
ed Cranberr}^ the next morning, where its progress 
was arrested by a violent storm, which continued all 
that day. La Fayette was, in consequence of this, 
ordered to suspend the pursuit, and to proceed in 
another direction to Englishtown, which was accord- 
ingly done on the next day, (the 27th.) 

This change m the order of the march of the 
American army, produced a corresponding altera- 
tion in the movements of General Clinton, who im- 
mediately suspected the enemy's design. His rear 
guard consisted of grenadiers and light infantry, all 
the baggage being disposed of in the centre, and 
Bis entire army constituting, by this arrangement, 



LA FAYETTE. 45 

an enormous column of twelve miles in extent; so 
that the Marquis was under the necessity of rein- 
forcing his advanced guard. 

General Lee, who now.regretted his previous re- 
fusal to take the command of the advanced guard, 
and apprehensive that his character might suffer 
considerably in consequence, entreated General 
Washington still to confide it to his charge; a re- 
quest which he at first refused, and accompanied bis 
reply with well-merited reproaches. Not long after, 
however, he was prevailed upon to allow him two 
brigades, with orders to join the Marquis ; and as 
General Lee was the senior officer, he again pos- 
sessed the entire command of the advanced guard, 
General Washington advancing at the same time to 
support him. 

-The enemy's left wing was very much annoyed 
by Morgan's troops, and the right by the New-Jer- 
sey militia, under the command of General Dickin- 
son ; but the centre, under the orders of General 
Clinton, had been strongly intrenched, since the 
27th, not far from Monmouth Court-house. Wash- 
ington, who was desirous of attacking the enemy be- 
fore they reached the heights of Middletown, about 
twelve miles distant, ordered General Lee to be 
ready for action at the earliest notice. 

At daybreak on the 28th of the month, Gene- 
ral Kniphausen, with the advanced guard of the 



46 MEMOIRS OP 

British army, took up his line of march ; the bag- 
gage wagons followed next in order ; and about 
eight hours afterwards, General Clinton moved for- 
ward with the main corps, the select troops bring- 
ing up the rear. 

At one o'clock in the morning, General Wash- 
ington issued orders to Lee, to commence the at- 
tack; and made a corresponding disposition of the 
forces under Dickinson and Morgan. A similar 
arrangement was made with Scott and Varnum's 
brigades, under the command of General Granger. 
At daybreak, the troops were all in motion, and at 
about six o'clock, were on their march to Mon- 
mouth. The Commander-in-chief was preparing to 
follow them, when he received information, that the 
advanced guard of the enemy was retreating. Wash- 
ington immediately despatched a second order to 
General Lee, to accelerate his march, and to com- 
mence the attack forthwith^ unless he were 'prevented 
hy very serious difficulties; and informed him, that 
he was advancing with the main body of the armj'^ 
to support him, the baggage being left in the rear. 
But, in consequence of the conduct of General Lee, 
the attack was but partial, and the plans of the 
Commander-in-chief were in a great measure de- 
feated. So much was Lee's behaviour disapproved 
of, that a court martial was called, and he was de- 
prived of his command. 

In the mean time, General Clinton^ by forcetl 



LA FAYETTE. 47 

marches, at last reached Sandy Hook, where, on 
the 5th of July, he found Lord Howe's fleet In rea- 
diness. He here embarked his army, and proceed- 
ed to New-York, having lost in the affair at Mon- 
mouth between four and five hundred men, while 
the loss of the Americans amounted to hardly half 
that number. La Fayette acquitted himself with his 
accustomed bravery, and it was the general opinioD, 
that if he had retained the command which he was 
obliged to resign to General Lee, the result would 
have proved far more disastrous to the English 
army. 

The extreme heat of the weather rendered the 
pursuit by forced marches across a sandy soil, abso- 
lutely impracticable. General Washington deemed 
it sufficient to send several detachments of light 
armed troops to reconnoitre the movements of the 
enemy, and proceeded with the rest of the army to- 
wards the North River. 

On the 8th of July, Count d'Estaing, arrived at 
the mouth of the Delaware, from Toulon, with a fleet 
consisting of twelve ships of the line, three frigates, 
several brigs, schooners, &c. He, however, sailed 
away again after having set on shore the French 
minister, Mr. Gerard, who was received by Congress 
with every mark of respect. The French Admiral 
then set sail for Sandy Hook, w^here he arrived on 
the 11th, and commenced the blockade of Lord 



48 MEMOIRS OP 

Howe's squadron, making every possible effort to at- 
tack it to advantage. 

For this purpose, he made repeated attempts to 
enter the harbour ; but all to no purpose, as his ves- 
sels were unable to get over the bar. On the 22d 
of July, he set sail for Newport, in consequence of a 
request from General Washington, that he should 
assist the operations of Generals Greene and Sulli- 
van. These operations were directed against that 
division of the English army, which had kept its 
ground in Rhode Islandj ever since December, 1776. 

Washington, in the mean time, was still in New- 
Jersey, and sent La Fayette, with 2,000 men to 
strengthen General Sullivan, and to co-operate with 
him in the reduction of Rhode Island ; while General 
Greene was directed to proceed towards Providence 
and Tiverton, to attack the EngliBh army, then sta- 
tioned at Newport, 6,000 strong, under the command 
of General Figot. 

On the 8th of August, Count d'Estaing entered 
the harbour with all his squadron, having heard that 
the English General, on the 5th, had ordered four fri- 
gates, and several smaller vessels of war, then lying 
at anchor, to be destroyed, to prevent their falling into 
his hands. 

On the morning of the 9th, General Sullivan em- 
barked with his entire army at Tiverton ; and sailed 
for Rhode Island, having been informed that the 
enemy had evacuated the fortifications situated at 



LA FAYETTE. 49 

the northern extremity of the island. The same day 
Lord Howe made his appearance, not far from point 
Judith, with a squadron consisting of 25 vessels of 
war. 

As soon as d'Estaing was informed of this, he 
left Newport with a determination to bring him 
to action. Shortly after the two fleets came in sight of 
each other a storm arose, and did so much damage to 
several vessels of both squadrons, that they were 
considered unfit for action. The French fleet was 
obliged to sail for the nearest port, and on the 22d 
bent its course towards Boston, there to undergo the 
necessary repairs. Previous to this, however, Ge- 
nerals La Fayette and Greene went on board of the 
Admiral's ship, the Languedoc, to entreat him to 
prosecute his attack, and to support them in their 
ulterior operations. The principal officers were 
violently opposed to this measure, and reminded him 
that his orders were to proceed to Boston, in case of 
any disaster. The Admiral not having sufficient 
firmness to resist this appeal, yielded to their repre- 
sentations, and set sail for Boston. Generals La 
Fayette and Greene returned, very much dissatisfied 
with the result of their mission, which excited loud 
disapprobation on the part of the American officers. 
A formal protest was drawn up against the conduct 
of the French Admiral, in which his abandonment of 
the Rhode-Island expedition was spoken of as highly 
derogatory to the honour of France. 



50 MEMOIRS OF 

General Sullivan, destitute of provisions, aban- 
doned by a great part of his volunteers, and deprived 
of the protection of a naval force, found himself 
under the necessity of evacuating Rhode Island. He 
took his measures accordingly : on the 26th he em- 
barked his artillery, and evacuated his intrench- 
ments on the 28th. On that day a council of war 
was held, in which it was resolved to retire to the 
northern extremity of the island, keeping free the 
communication with the main land, and to occupy 
this position until it should be ascertained, whether 
or not the French fleet would return to support 
them. The Marquis de La Fayette was advised to 
repair to Boston, to solicit the speedy return of the 
squadron. He immediately mounted his horse, and 
such was his zeal and diligence, that he rode from 
Rhode Island to Boston, a distance of 70 miles, in 
7 hours, called on the Count, and left no means un- 
tried to induce him to return immediately. The 
French Admiral, after a long conference with 
the Marquis, and the officers of his squadron, 
who absolutely refused to depart from their ori- 
ginal resolution, was obliged, a second time, to 
the great mortification of La Fayette, to give a 
negative answer to this just and reasonable request. 
He offered him, however, such land forces as he had 
on board, to co-operate with the American army 
against Rhode Island. 
In the mean time, General Sullivan bad effected 



LA FAYETTE. 51 

his retreat towards the north of the island, and was 
closely pursued by two large detachments of the 
enemy's troops. Colonel Henry B. Livingston, 
and John Laurens, Washington's Aide de Camp, 
were ordered to cover the retreat. This they effect- 
ed, with so much bravery and skill, that, in conjunc- 
tion with some reinforcements, they turned the at- 
tack upon the English, and routed them, with a loss 
of between two and three hundred men. 

Lord Howe's fleet, with General Clinton and 
4,000 men on board, now appearing on the coast, 
General Sullivan came to the determination of eva- 
cuating Rhode Island. As the sentinels of the two 
armies were not more than 400 yards distant from 
each other, the greatest possible caution was neces- 
sary, in order to effect a successful retreat. This 
commenced on the night of the 30th August. 

Towards midnight, La Fayette arrived from 
Boston, having been but six hours and a half on the 
way, eager, as he said himself, to share the honours 
of the battle ; and nothing could exceed his disap- 
pointment and chagrin, when he found that the en- 
gagement had taken place on the evening before his 
arrival. 

His presence had a favourable influence on the 
spirits of the army. He immediately took the com- 
mand of the rear, and exerted himself to animate 
the troops, who were destined to cover the retreatr 



. V;. 



52t MEMOIRS OP 

This was accomplished with so much coolness, cour- 
age and address, that not a single man was lost. 
By this success, he obtained the thanks of Con- 
gress, expressed Ihrough the medium of the Presi- 
dent ; and the details of this masterly retreat were 
recorded at large in the public registers. The reso- 
lution of Congress was to this effect : 

" Resolved, that the President be requested to in- 
form the Marquis de La Fayette that Congress 
have of proper sense of the sacrifice he made 
of his personal feelings, in repairing to Boston to 
promote the interest of the States, at a time, 
when he momentarily expected an opportunity of 
distinguishing himself in the field ; and that the 
bravery whic he displayed on his return to Rhode- 
Island, when the greater part of the army had al- 
ready effected its retreat, together with the ability with 
which he withdrew the picquets and advanced posts, 
merits the unqualified approbation of this Assem- 

%•" 

This resolution was accompanied by the follow- 
ing letter from Mr. Henry Laurens, President of the 
Congress, to the Marquis de La Fayette, Major 
General in the United States army : 

''Philadelphia, ISth Oct. 11 IS. 
'' Sir, 

"I feel a peculiar pleasure in fulfilling the instruc- 
tions implied by a resolution of Congress, passed on 
the 9th inst, and herewith enclosed, expressing the 



LA FAYETTE. 53 

sentiments of the Representatives of the United 
States, with regard to your conduct during the re- 
cent expedition, undertaken against Rhode Island. 

''You will but render, sir, an act of justice to Con- 
gress, by regarding this testimonial as a tribute of 
respect and gratitude, offered by a free people to 
one who has rendered them essential services. I 
have the honour," he. 

The following is the Marquis's reply : 

''Head quarters, 2Sd Sept. 1778. 

"Sir, 

" I have this instant received the letter which 
you did me the favour to write, under date of the 13th 
instant, in which you inform me of the honour 
which Congress has deemed fit to confer on me, by 
its very flattering resolution. Proud as I am of 
such distinguishing approbation, I am not the less 
grateful to find that my efforts have been, in a mea- 
sure, regarded as useful to a cause, in which I have 
taken so deep and so lively an interest. Be pleased, 
sir, to present to Congress my unfeigned and heart- 
felt thanks, accompanied with the assurances of my 
sincere attachment, the only homage which is wor- 
thy of being offered to the representatives of a free 
people. 

" From the moment 1 first heard the name of Ame- 
rica, 1 began to love her ; from the moment I under- 
stood that she was struggling for her liberties, I 

5* 



54 MEMOIRS OF 

burned to shed my best blood in her glorious cause ; 
and the days I shall devote to the service of Ameri- 
ca, wherever and whenever it ma_y be, will consti- 
tute the happiest of my life. Yet I never so ardent- 
ly desired, as I do now, to deserve the generous 
sentiments with which these States and their repre- 
sentatives have honoured me : and the flattering con- 
fidence which they have so freely reposed in me, 
has filled my breast with the most lively gratitude, 
and the most lasting affection." 

After the failure of the Rhode-Island expedition, 
nothing remarkable occurred during the remainder 
of the campaign of 1778, in which La Fayette was 
immediately concerned. But, about this time, he 
received letters from France, informing him of the 
sensation that had been produced in England, by 
the news of the French treaty, and the knowledge of 
the services rendered by the French Marquis to the 
American cause; and adding, that it was the ge- 
neral impression, that a war would shortly break 
out between England and France. 

La Fayette, the French La Fayette, did not hesi- 
tate an instant. His country required his services, 
and the obligations of the French Officer were higher 
and stronger than those of the American General* 
He resolved, however, to unite with the performance 
pf his duty the execution of a plan, which he now 



LA FAYETTE. 55 

submitted to his friend and General, the'lllustrious 
Washington. 

He had been exceedingly vexed with the abso- 
lute and explicit refusal, on the part of Count d'Es- 
taing and his officers, to assist the Americans in the 
Rhode-Island expedition, which, as we have seen, 
failed only in consequence of their pertinacity. He 
had frequently expressed it as his decided opinion 
to his friend, that unless France should send ves- 
sels of war and troops, in sufficient numbers, and 
put them under the immediate control of the 
American Commander-in-chief, the benefits of her 
alliance must necessarily be partial and insignificant ; 
for, every French officer might allege, with Count 
d'Estaing, the secret orders of his sovereign, as a pre- 
text to avoid the performance of a dangerous or dis- 
agreeable service. General Washington, though of 
a disposition too modest to be absolutely of his 
opinion, opposed to his remarks but very few and 
feeble objections, from which the Marquis easily in- 
ferred, that the General's sentiments coincided with 
his own. He accordingly wrote to such of his friends 
as possessed much influence in the ministry, that if 
they were really desirous of aiding the American 
cause, it was necessary to furnish larger supplies, and 
submit them to the wisdom and control of the Ame- 
rican General, whose character he then portrayed, 



;56 MEMOIRS OP 

in language at once honourable to the ardour of his 
friendship, and just to the merit of his friend. 

General La Fayette left Washington's quarters in 
October, 1778, and repaired to Philadelphia, where 
Congress were then in session. 

In consequence of the unlimited permission grant- 
ed by Congress, he left America towards the end of 
the year 1778 ; retaining the rank and title of Major 
General of the American army, with an undiminish- 
ed attachment to the cause, and the most lively sen- 
sations of gratitude, for the very honourable manner 
in which he had been every where received. 

He carried away with him the regrets of every 
virtuous citizen, mingled with the pleasing hope, that 
his departure would not be without its use to his 
country and America. What an extraordinary situ- 
ation for a young man but twenty -two years of age ! 
Connecting, as it were, the interests of the two hemi- 
spheres by his courage, his ardent and uncommon 
zeal, his devoted attachment to the cause of liberty ; 
this young hero succeeded in rendering very signal 
services to each of his countries, without neglecting 
his obligations to either. His enthusiastic love of 
liberty, his cheerful and disinterested abandonment 
of a large share of his fortune, the frequent and fear- 
less exposure of his life, the blood which he had shed 
in the field of battle, his strong conviction that he 
was serving his country, in thus devoting himself to 
the eanse of the States 5 every thing, in short, was so 



liA PAYETTE. 57 

extraordinary in this young warrior, that from the 
moment he arrived at Havre, he was feasted and ca- 
ressed by his fellow citizens with such demonstra- 
tions of regard, as few indeed can boast of having re- 
ceived. This enthusiastic excitement, and just ad- 
miration of the young Marquis's virtues, affected all 
parties, and even extended to the frigid and ceremo- 
nious frequenters of the court. 

The young Queen, Marie Antoinette, no less cele- 
brated for her misfortunes than for her beauty, viva- 
city, and wit, was one of his most ardent admirers. 
With a mind exquisitely susceptible of the impression 
of generous and exalted sentiments, she had ever ad- 
mired, in the youthful La Fayette, his lofty devotion, 
and chivalric spirit. 

The envy of fanaticism will never deprive the 
memory of an unjustly calumniated, and barbarous- 
ly murdered princess, of the honour which belongs 
to conduct and qualities like tliese. She became 
his most zealous protectress, and in the private au- 
diences which she frequently granted him, she often 
took occasion to inquire into the character of Ge- 
neral Washington. La Fayette, on this subject, 
could scarcely command himself, and spoke with an 
eloquence so ardent and so earnest, that the Queen, 
and all who were present at the interview, were un- 
able to resist the contagion of his enthusiasm. 

As soon as she saw Dr. Franklin, then Minister 



58 MEMOIRS OF 

plenipotentiary, she could not help exclaiming, with 
all that gentle affability for which she was remark- 
able, " Do you know. Doctor, that La Fayette has 
really made me in love with your General Wash- 
ington ? What a man he must be, and what a friend 
he possesses in the Marquis !" 

The King, the ministry, and the whole court, re- 
ceived him with no less cordiality ; and he was par- 
ticularly admitted to long and frequent conferences 
with the Count de Vergennes, a statesman of great 
intelligence and talent, who was then at the head of 
affairs, and in whom the King reposed the most un- 
bounded confidence. In the course of these con- 
ferences. La Fayette addressed the Minister with all 
that frankness which distinguished every action of 
his life, and undertook to prove the necessity of 
aiding the Americans by more liberal supplies, and 
larger forces both by land and sea ; insisting parti- 
cularly on the propriety of subniiiilng the disposi- 
tion of these forces entirely to the direction of the 
American Congress, or the Commander-in-chief. 
He at last succeeded in convincing the Minister, and, 
through his representations, the King; being power- 
fully seconded in all these conferences by the ci- 
devant Minister of France in Philadelphia, and by 
the Chevalier de la Luzerne, his successor. Or- 
ders were accordingly issued, to equip a new squad- 



LA FAYETTE. 59 

ron, and to put on board a more numerous body of 
troops. 

In the mean time, Congress, by a resolution pass- 
tbeSlst of October, 1778, had authorized Dr. Frank- 
lin to present to our hero a sword, superbly orna- 
menled with appropriate allegorical devices. 

Immediately upon its being known that the King 
ha^ approved of the design of sending an additional 
bbdy of troops to America, almost the whole of the 
French nobility exhibited the most ardent desire to 
follow the example of their young compatriot ; and 
the enthusiasm to go to the new world and defend 
the cause of struggling liberty, rose to such a height, 
that a permission to enter the American service, un- 
der the command of General Washington, became 
the object of the most eager intrigue, and was re- 
garded as a special and distinguished favour. So 
great was the number of applicants, that many 
thousands were of necessity refused ; and General 
La Fayette was so surrounded by the entreaties of 
more than 200 young noblemen, some requesting to be 
accepted as aides de camp, and others as secretaries, 
that he found himself utterly at a loss to evade their 
importunities. 

The house of the American Minister was in the 
same way besieged from morning tonight, by thou- 
sands, who earnestly begged, as a very particular fa- 
vour, that he vrould exert his influence with the 



%0 Memoirs of 

French Minister, to obtain for them permission to 
serve under the orders of the illustrious Washington. 
In short, without being well acquainted with the impe- 
tuous character of the youth of France, it would be im- 
possible to form an adequate idea of the extraordinary 
scenes which occurred at this time, both at Paris and 
Versailles. It was no uncommon case, for young 
men to travel post, night and day, for several hun- 
dred leagues, in order to be among the first who 
presented themselves at court, to solicit the favour 
of bein^ permitted to serve in the American war. 

The spirit of the nation, at the same time, came 
powerfully to the Marquis's assistance. Every 
Frenchman, in a greater or less degree, entertains 
against the English a strong disposition of hostili- 
ty, for which, perhaps, no adequate reason can be 
assigned. To combat in the cause of liberty, under 
the standard of a General like Washington, was, 
doubtless, a consideration of great weight with 
every young and gallant spirit 5 but, in so doing, to 
turn their arms against the enemies of their own 
country, and to wrest from their possession a coun- 
try like America, was an enterprise too inviting to 
resist ; and it was this reflection, no doubt, which 
principally operated to induce many thousand young 
Frenchmen to use all their interest to obtain as a 
favour, what most would regard as the greatest of 
misfortunes } and to accept, with the sineerest gra- 



LA FAYETTE. 61 

titude, permission to leave their native soil, with all 
that was dear to them, and to seek a distant shore, 
where they must necessarily be exposed to the ha- 
zards of danger, disease, and death. La Fayette had 
shown them the glorious example, and his grateful 
compatriots strove, by all the means in their power, 
to testify their affectionate regard. Every one was 
ambitious of the honour of doing honour to him; 
and no man was ever received with more enthusiasm 
than General La Fayette everywhere met with in 
France. 

A short tour in Auvergne, which he undertook 
about this time, partly for the purpose of escaping 
these perpetual festivities, and partly in order to ar- 
range his family affairs, (the greater part of his 
property being situated there,) bore every resem- 
blance to an actual triumph. From Auvergne he 
returned to Paris and Versailles, where Louis, in 
granting permission to La Fayette to rejoin the 
American army, added, that he could not better 
serve his King, than by serving America. Shortly 
after, he embarked on board of one of the King's 
frigates, which had been equipped at Havre by 
order of the government, in order to give him a 
safer and more honourable passage. He was ac- 
companied by a crowd of officers ; and carried with 
him arms, ammunition, and supplies of every de- 
scription. 

6 



62 MEMOIRS OF 

We have mentioned the resolution of Congress, 
voting to La Fayette a magnificent sword, to be 
enriched with allegorical inscriptions. As soon as 
it was finished. Dr. Franklin forwarded it to Havre, 
under the charge of his grandson, with the follovv- 
hig letter. 

''.Passy, 24th August, 1779. 
" Sir, 

" The Congress, sensible of your merit towards 
the United States, but unable adequately to reward 
it, determined to present you with a sword, as a 
small mark of their grateful acknowledgment. 
They directed it to be ornamented with suitable de- 
vices. Some of the principal actions of the war, in 
which you distinguished yourself by your bravery 
and conduct, are, therefore, represented upon it. 
These, with a few emblematic figures, all admirably 
well executed, make its principal value. By the 
help of the exquisite artists France affords, I find it 
easy to express every thing but the sense we have of 
your worth and our obligations to you. For this, 
figures, and even words, are found insufficient. 

•' I therefore only add, that, with the most perfect 
esteem and respect, I have the honour to be your 
obedient servant, 

'•Benjaman Franklin. 



LA FAYETTE. 63 

" P. S. My grandson goes to Havre with the sword, 
and will have the honour of presenting it to you." 

La Fayette arrived at Boston on the 26th of 
April, 1780. As soon as the inhabitants were ac- 
quainted with the fact, they crowded to the harbour, 
and conducted him, amidst the roaring of cannon 
and the ringing of bells, to the rooms which the mu- 
nicipal authorities had prepared for him. Fireworks 
were seen in all the places of public amusement; he 
was invited to all entertainments, and unusual and re- 
peated distinctions were conferred upon him, as to- 
kens of the general satisfaction at seeing him among 
them again. These testimonials of gratitude and re- 
gard were particularly honourable, inasmuch as the3^ 
were awarded to his personal merit alone ; he having 
as yet communicated to none the agreeable intelli- 
gence of which he was the bearer. 

He withdrew as speedily as possible from these tu- 
multuous demonstrations of joy, which, far from being 
confined to the town, were equally exhibited by the 
inhabitants of the surrounding country, who came 
in crowds to assure him of their esteem and affec- 
tion. At his arrival at the seat of government, he 
communicated to Congress the official information, 
that the King of France had consented to send very 
considerable land and sea forces, to assist them in 
their just and honourable enterprise. He was com- 



64 MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETTE. 

pliraented by a deputation of the members, and was 
received by the inhabitants with every proof of con- 
sideration and regard. 

We leave the reader to imagine the mutual joy 
experienced by La Fayelte and Washington, at 
their first interview, after his return. The strong- 
affection which the American General felt for his 
adopted son continued every day to increase, while 
nothing could exceed the respect and veneration 
which the youthful warrior felt for this great and il- 
lustrious man. 



CHAPTER V. 



Ca3ipaigns of General La Fayette, from 1780, until bis 
return to France. 



The military operations of the year 1779 were 
of little consequence in America; but in Europe, 
the political events of this year were of no small im- 
portance. The representations of La Fayette had 
convinced the cabinet of Versailles, that neither the 
succours, nor the limited instructions of Count d'Es- 
taing, would answer tbe design proposed. The 
Bourbon family of France and Spain united in de- 
claring war against their common enemy, and even 
before the declaration, the Spanish Governor of 
Louisiana, Don Bernardo de Galvez, had, on the 
19th August, 1779, solemnly recognised the inde- 
pendence of the States, and had commenced hostili- 
ties against the English, by the occupation of the 
post of Mobile. 

The Americans, however, anticipated too much 
from the alliance of France. They confidently ex- 
pected that this measure, on the part of the Frencii 



66' MEMOIRS OF 

cabinet, would give rise to a declaration of war be- 
tween Great Britain and the Bourbons, by which 
the former would be so much occupied, as to be un- 
able to prosecute, with vigour, her plan of reducing 
them to submission. General Washington endea- 
voured, in vain, to represent to Congress and the dif- 
ferent confederated States, that Great Britain enter- 
tained no idea whatever of abandoning her original 
design ; that her decided naval superiority would over- 
power the united efforts of France and Spain; and 
that, in short, the Americans must redouble their ac- 
tivity and rouse their energies, to finish, by vigour- 
ous operations, a struggle, which had already last- 
ed much too long. 

The failure of the attack on Savannah, in which 
Count d'Estaing w^as wounded, 9th Oct. 1779, in- 
duced the French Admiral to re-embark his troops, 
and bid a final farewell to the American seas. 

The arrival of General La Fayette, and the agree- 
able information of which he was the bearer, infu- 
sed a little more spirit and activity in the movements 
of the army. He was immediately intrusted with 
the command of the light infantry and dragoons; 
General Washington finding no better w ay of re- 
warding the zeal and merit of his youthful friend. 

La Fayette made very great sacrifices to assist 
the General in the equipment of the troops, who 
were coming in much more slowly than was antici- 



LA FAYETTE. G7 

{3atecl or desired; for Washington was, about this 
time, projecting an attack upon New-York. 

On the 13th of July, information was received 
from that city, that a large French squadron had 
been seen, between the Capes of Virginia and Dela- 
ware; and the next day, a letter was received from 
General Heath, at Newport, dated the 11th, with 
information that the French fleet was that instant 
coming up the harbour. 

Shortly after, General Washington received let- 
ters from Count de Rochambeau and Chevalier de 
Tiernay, apprizing him of their arrival. They wrote 
word, that inconsequence of the difficulty experien- 
ced in collecting transports for the troops embark- 
ing for America, the squadron of the Count de 
Guiche, destined for the West-Indies, requiring near- 
ly all, they had brought with them only the first di- 
vision; but that the second was in readiness, at 
Brest, and only waiting for the transports necessary 
for their embarkation. 

But what was of more importance, and equally 
honourable to Washington and La Fayette, Count 
de Rochambeau informed the American Commander- 
in-chief, that he had received the most positive or- 
ders to place himself entirely at the disposal of the 
American Congress ; that the French troops were 
to be regarded as auxiliaries, and consequently, ac- 
cording to the usages of war, were inferior in rank 
and authority to the nation who employed them. 



6S MEMOIRS OF 

The two Generals were thoroughly convinced of 
the necessity of maintaining" the most perfect har- 
mony and good understanding between the two ar- 
mies. Under these circumstances, General La Fay- 
ette performed a part as honourable to himself, as it 
was useful to the allies. He passed continually from 
one camp to the other, charged with the most deli^ 
cateand difficult commissions, which, as he consi- 
dered himself as equally belonging to each nation, 
he endeavoured to execute without committing the 
honour or interest of either. In all his orders. Gene- 
ral Washington recommended the utmost unanimi- 
ty ; and the better to bring about a union of feeling 
and concert of action, he directed that his soldiers 
should wear, as a token of affection and friendship 
for their allies, a white ribbon, which was the colour 
of the French cockade, along with their own cock- 
ade, which was black. 

The first division of the French fleet, as it arrived 
at Newport, consisted of two ships of 80 guns, one 
of 74, four of 64, two frigates of 40, one cutter of 
20, a hospital ship, pierced for 64 guns, and 22 
transports, under the command of Rear Admiral de 
Tiernay. On board were four regiments of troops, 
with the Duke de Lauzun's legion, consisting of a 
great number of volunteer noblemen, whom the King 
had permitted to serve. There was, besides, a bat- 



LA FAYETTE. 69 

taiion of artillery, with a select train of bombarding 
and field pieces ; the whole being under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant General the Count de Rocham- 
beau. 

General La Fayette was immediately directed by 
the Commander-in-chief, to superintend the recep- 
tion of his countrymen, a commission which he exe- 
cuted to the satisfaction of all. Washington had 
at the same time given him confidential instructions, 
to propose to the new allies a combined plan of ope- 
rations, but on no account to conceal the melan- 
choly condition of the American army. In conse- 
quence, however, of a series of unfortunate events, 
which it is not our business to detail, the contem- 
plated attack on New-York was never attempted ; 
and the year 1780 elapsed without any remarkable 
occurrence. 

In the early part of the campaign of 1781, the 
enemy extended their ravages to the south of Vir- 
ginia, and La Fayette was, in consequence, sent at 
the head of an expedition against Portsmouth ; but 
an unexpected event occurred, which checked his 
zeal, and forced him to abandon the enterprise, in 
the same manner as he had before been compelled to 
give over the invasion of Canada. This event was 
an engagement, which took place on the 5th of 
March, 1781, between Destouches, the commander 
of the French squadron, and Admiral Arbuthnot. 



70 MEMOIRS OF 

In consequence of the result of this engagement, La 
Fayette retrograded to the head of Elk; where he 
received General Washington's orders to return to 
Virginia to meet General Philips, who had effected 
a conjunction with the forces of General Arnold at 
Portsmouth. Although the troops under his com- 
mand were literally without coats or shoes, and des- 
titute of almost every necessary, in a country, too, 
where it was extremely difficult to procure subsis- 
tence, not a single murmur was heard ; for their 
General had set them the example of suffering in si- 
lence. He had advanced as far as Baltimore, when 
he was informed that General Philips was embark- 
ing with all possible diligence at Portsmouth, with 
upwards of 3,000 men. This proved for La Fayette 
a moment of extreme embarrassment and distress. 
There was not a single pair of shoes in the whole 
army ; but the universal confidence he had inspired, 
procured him the loan of a sum of money sufficient- 
ly large to satisfy the most urgent wants of his 
troops. Believing that it was the design of Gene- 
ral Philips to make an attack upon Richmond, he 
hastened to that place with so much diligence, that 
he arrived on the very evening preceding the day 
on which his adversary made his appearance. 
By this rapid and dexterous movement, the capital 
of Virginia, at that time the general depot of the 
military supplies of that state, was rescued from the 



LA. FAYETTE. 71 

most imminent danger. Early the next morning, 
the English entered Manchester, a village situated 
directly opposite to Richmond. 

The two armies watched each other's movements 
for some time, when General Phihps, unwilling to 
encounter the hazard of attempting to dislodge the 
Marquis from the strong position he had taken, 
conceived it most advisable to retire. 

The combined forces of Generals Arnold, Philips, 
and Cornwallis, were so decidedly superior in num- 
ber, and at the same time, the conquest of Virginia 
would have been so fatal to the hopes of all the 
southern states, that the Marquis La Fayette found 
himself surrounded by innumerable difficulties, and 
sensibly felt the great importance and high respon- 
sibilities of his charge. 

Fully aware of the storm that was gathering over 
his head, and anxiously looking around for the 
means of meeting, or at least averting its fury, he 
commenced the retreat of his little army, which con- 
sisted of only 1,000 regulars, 2,000 militia, and 60 
dragoons. Cornwallis, highly elated with the pros- 
pect of success, secured, as he believed, by the 
youth of his adversary, was imprudent enough to 
state, in his letters to England, that the hoy could 
not possibly escape him. The engagement, how- 
ever, from which he expected to realize his boast, 
was carefully and constantly avoided by the Mar- 



72 MEMOIRS OF 

quis. Foiled in every attempt to bring him to ac- 
tion, Cornwallis at last made an effort to cut off his 
communication with General Wayne, who was ad- 
vancing from the north, with 800 Pennsylvanians. 
Here he was again disappointed; for the junction 
was effected at Racoon Ford, without the loss of a 
single man. The next object of Lord Cornwallis 
was to seize the ammunition, which, for greater se- 
curity, had been removed from Richmond to Albe- 
marle old Court-house, above the point of the Fork. 
Just at the instant when the junction between Ge- 
nerals La Fayette and Wayne took place, Lord 
Cornwallis threw himself between the combined 
armies and the public magazines. As the posses- 
sion of these stores was, with both armies, an ob- 
ject of the greatest importance, La Fayette was 
determined to make an attempt to pass the British 
army by forced marches, while they were still two 
days march from Albemarle old Court-house. 
Here again Lord Cornwallis believed he had out- 
generalled his adversary; he knew the design of La 
Fayette ; but he saw no way by which his object could 
be effected, except by a road where the American 
army might be attacked to the greatest advantage. 
It was a critical moment, but the Marquis had the 
address and good fortune to evade the danger, and 
accomplish his design. Part of his army was order- 
ed to open, during the night, a road, which, though 



LAFAYETTE. 73 

leading more directly to Albemarle old Court- 
house, had not been made use of for several years, 
and which was consequently very much obstructed. 
By this manoeuvre, he succeeded in effecting his 
object ; and Cornwallis, the following morning, saw, 
to his great mortification and astonishment, the army 
of La Fayette occupying a strong position, between 
his troops and the American magazines. 

His lordship, having failed in all his plans, re- 
turned to Richmond, to which place he was follow- 
ed by the Marquis La Fayette. The main body 
of the American army in Virginia had just been 
reinforced, by troops under the command of Baron 
Steuben, and by several volunteer corps, consisting 
of citizens of Virginia and Maryland ; and La 
Fayette had sufficient address to make the English 
General believe, that he was much stronger than he 
really was. Under this apprehension, Lord Corn- 
wallis retreated to Williamsburg, which, however, 
he soon after evacuated, in consequence of being 
weakened, by a requisition from Sir Henry Clinton 
of a part of his troops. 

The next morning La Fayette changed his po- 
sition, and advanced close upon the enemy's camp, 
with the view of attacking their rear, when the main 
body should have passed over the ford, at which 
they were encamped, into the Island of Jamestown. 
Lord Cornwallis, who had suspected this design, re- 



74 MEMOIRS OF 

tained the greater part of his army on the main land, 
and at the same time employed every possible strata- 
gem to make it appear that his main body had ac- 
tually crossed the ford in the night. La FayettCj 
however, was not to be deceived. He determined 
to reconnoitre the enemy's camp himself, and judge 
of its strength from his own observation. He im- 
mediately detected the scheme, and returning to his 
original position, found General Wayne, with a 
small detachment of eight hundred men, engaged 
with the whole British line. La Fayette, perceiving 
the danger, ordered General Wayne to retreat ; and 
Cornwallis, suspecting, from the hardiness of the at- 
tack and the time of the day, that this manoeuvre was 
intended to draw him into an ambuscade, did not 
venture to leave his position. Thus, owing partly 
to the caution and circumspection of the Marquis, 
and partly to the timidity of the English General, 
the stratagem of Cornwallis was entirely defeated. 
From Jamestown, the British army proceeded to 
Portsmouth, and the Marquis availed himself of this 
opportunity to refresh his harassed troops, who 
had thus kept the field with so much success, against 
a great superiority of eiSective force. 

After a series of manoeuvres, unnecessary to de- 
scribe, in which the English General evinced a bold 
and enterprising disposition, and the young Mar- 
quis a happy combination of the ardour of youth 



LA FAYETTE. 75 

and the judgment of ripened manhood, Lord Corn- 
wallis finally collected his whole force at Yorktown. 
The Marquis, in the mean time, had taken a po- 
sition on James river, in order to resist any attempt 
which the British army might make to escape into 
South Carolina; and entered into a variety of ar- 
rangements, all subordinate to the grand design of 
the ensuing campaign. 

Various circumstances, as is very well known, 
had, about this time, concurred to induce General 
Washington to abandon the grand enterprise he 
had projected against New- York, and to direct the 
whole strength of the allied forces towards the waters 
of the Chesapeake. The combined army, under 
the command of Washington and de Rochambeau, 
had advanced on this expedition as far as Chester, 
in Pennsylvania, when they received the welcome 
intelligence of the arrival of Admiral de Grasse in 
the Chesapeake, with twenty-four ships of the line. 
This took place on the 30th of August, and on the 
next day, three thousand two hundred men, for the 
most part drawn from St. Domingo, under the 
command of the Marquis de St. Simon, were disem- 
barked on the south side of James river, and prompt- 
ly efiected a junction with the forces under La Fay- 
ette. The French General, as may well be imagin- 
ed, felt great pleasure in finding himself reinforced 
by so large a number of his own countrymen, and 



76 MEMOIRS or 

now conceived great hopes of rendering important 
services to the cause in which he had engaged with 
so much disinterested ardour. 

The allied forces soon proceeded to lay siege to 
Yorktown. In the investment of this post, Gene-* 
ral La Fayette greatly distinguished himself ; an^ 
on one occasion, in particular, in a manner too de- 
serving of notice to omit. The progress of the be- 
siegers was considerably retarded by the fire from 
two redoubts, advanced about three hundred yards 
in front of the British works. With a view to ex- 
cite emulation between the allied troops, the attack 
of the one was committed to the French, and of the 
other to the Americans. The Marquis de La Fay- 
ette headed the American detachment, and the Baron 
de Viominil the other. Just before sunset, the two 
detachments, animated with the emulous hope of 
doing honour to themselves and to their respective 
countries, marched firmly to the assault. 

The American detachment charged the redoubt 
without firing a gun^ and rushing over the abattis 
and palisades, almost instantaneously carried the 
works, with very inconsiderable loss. The French 
were equally successful, but in consequence of meet- 
ing with greater resistance, the redoubt committed 
to their charge was carried with the loss of a much 
greater number of men. The Commander-in-chief 
was very much gratified with the intrepidity, cool- 



LA FAYETTE. 77 

iiess and firmness shown by both parties on ibis oc- 
casion. In the orders of the following day, the 
General expressed a high sense of the able conduct 
of both La Fayette and De Viominil, and requested 
them to convey to their respective detachments his 
acknowledgments of their gallant intrepidity. "The 
General reflects," conclude the orders, " with the 
highest degree of pleasure, on the confidence which 
the troops of the two nations must hereafter have in 
each other. Assured of mutual support, he is con- 
vinced there is no danger which they will not cheer- 
fully encounter, no danger which they will not brave- 
ly overcome."* 

The result of the siege is universally known. 
Lord Cornwallis was soon compelled to surrender. 
In negotiating the articles of capitulation, the Eng- 
lish General, full of admiration of the valour and 
conduct of the Marquis, requested as a particular 
favour, to be permitted to treat with him alone, and 
to surrender his sword into his hands ; an office 
which the modesty of La Fayette compelled him to 
decline. 

After receiving the acknowledgments of the Com- 
mander-in-chief, and the thanks of Congress, Gene- 
ral La Fayette proceeded, in November, 1781, 
to Philadelphia, where he was received with ever) 
demonstration of joy. By the state of Virginia he 

* Marshall's Life of Washington. 



78 MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETTE. 

was presented with a bust, on which were various 
honorary inscriptions. Met by applause, and fol- 
lowed by gratitude wherever he went, he finally, in 
December, 1781, sailed a second time for France, 
in order to urge the French government to ex- 
tend further assistance. The American ministers 
in Europe were at the same time instructed to 
confide freely in him the most secret affairs of state^ 



CHAPTER VL 

The arrival of Gen. La Fayette in his native country ; liis 
travels in Germany, and his third voyage to the United 
States. 

General La Fayette, on his arrival in France, 
was received with such continued demonstrations of 
joy, that he had scarce a moment of leisure to de- 
vote to his own family and affairs. The court and 
people vied in showing their admiration of this 
3'oung hero, so distinguished for liis modesty and 
bravery. 

After the King had listened to the history of 
American affairs which La Fayette related^ he in- 
quired, with his usual frankness and good nature, 
"But, sir, what were you doing all this time .?" for 
the young General had not uttered a single word 
about himself. 

Louis vvas so delighted with his conduct, and his 
attachment to the American cause, which reflected 
honour upon his own crown, that he bestowed many 
favours upon him. The young Queen, Maria An- 
toinette, paid him some flattering compliments, and 
presented him her miniature. 



so MEMOIRS OF 

Madame La Fayette shared in the universal ad- 
miration. Among a thousand other instances of this, 
we shall only relate the following. Voltaire, shortly 
before his death, was invited to the Duke Chpiseul's 
where a large company was assembled, and where 
.he was received with the usual acclamations. Per- 
ceiving Madame La Fayette among the ladies, he 
approached her, and falling on his knee, paid his 
respects to her, and complimented her with an eulo- 
gium upon her husband's patriotic virtues. 

After this, no person will be surprised that La 
Fayette attracted such public attention ; for where 
ever he appeared crowds were attracted around him, 
crying "long live La Fayette." 

He was undoubtedly delighted with these many 
proofs of regard ; but, after remaining six weeks in 
Paris, perceiving the enthusiasm did not abate, he 
hastened to quit the capital, and make a journey, 
with his young wife and his son George, now three 
years of age, to his estates in Touraine. Even this 
journey was a triumph, for no sooner was it known 
that General La Fayette was about to arrive in any 
place, than the bells were rung, a procession was 
formed, and the magistrates welcomed him with little 
less than regal honours. The city of Orleans, in 
particular, detained him a whole week. 

He felt it proper, it is true, not to accept these 
honours, for he admired neifher ostentation nor 



LA FAYETTE. 81 

ceremony ; but La Fayette was but a man, and he 
could not help being sensible to them. 

Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, had attract- 
ed for a long time general attention ; and La Fay- 
ette, wishing to see this great man, took the present 
opportunity to visit him. In this journey he stopped 
at the courts of most of the German princes, who all 
received him with distinguished honours. Professors 
of the universities, students, the clergy, nobles, prin- 
ces and people, all pressed to see the hero whose 
name stood foremost in the lists of fame. I have 
heard it asserted, that persons rode 600 miles to see 
him. 

The autumn of 1782 was now at hand, the time 
fixed by the King of Prussia for the grand review 
which was to take place at Pottsdam. At this 
place were assembled 50,000 men from every part of 
the kingdom who for three successive days went 
through the evolutions of battles, sieges and storms^ 
under the immediate command of the King himself. 
I have been twice present at these magnificent re- 
views, one at TempethofF, a village four miles distant 
from Berlin, and one at Magdebourg. I have seen the 
Great Frederick mounted on his white charger, with 
his little three-cornered cocked hat on his head, his 
threadbare blue jacket, and his opera glass in his 
hand, commanding 30,000 picked men, and sur- 
rounded by his brilliant circle of staff officers. He 
followed, with his glass, the evolutions of the differ- 



2 MEMOIRS OF 

ent corps — and wo to the man who blundered ; he 
was instantly cashiere . 

It was at these reviews that the princes of the 
blood received their commissions, after serving from 
six to twelve months as cadets, carrying a musket 
and cartridge box, and mounting guard as com- 
mon soldiers, in their turn, for twenty-four hours tO" 
gether. If their arms and uniform, which they are 
obliged to keep clean themselves, are not in perfect 
order, they are punished, by being put under arrest, 
or by being deprived of some privileges ; for, as 
the Prussian policy has been of the military order 
from the time of the Grand Elector, Frederick Wil- 
liam, to the present day, all the royal prince* be- 
gin by serving as comiZ?on soldiers, and are promo- 
led successively through the different ranks of ojffi- 
cers; the duties belonging to each of which is requi' 
red to be properly discharged. So rigidly was this 
rule observed, that 1 have seen the present king, 
when prince royal under Frederick William, on 
guard before the door of tents of the cadets, at Ber- 
lin. They receive only the common pay, eating with 
the mess, and, in a word, under the same discipline 
and hardships as the other soldiers. If they misbe- 
have, report is made to the King, and they are se- 
verely punished; while, on the other hand, if they 
behave well, they are praised, and rewarded with a 
gold Frederick, value about three dollars, and never 



LA FAYETTE. 83 

more. As soon as they attain to the rank of ensign, 
they are equipped by the King, and are placed in one 
of the regiments of the Guards, when they have, for 
the first time, the honour of assisting at the grand re- 
views. 

It is at these reviews that the promotions, punish- 
ments and rewards are published, by being read 
three times at the head of each company. Frede- 
rick always directed these personally, and as his ex- 
treme severity and exact justice was well known, 
each applied himself to his own particular business. 
It was by this means that the Prussian army, under 
him, possessed the most experienced officers in the 
world. The young noblemen were obliged to pass 
throucjh the same course of preparatory study as 
the princes. If our militia would imitate the exam- 
ple of Prussian discipline, they would be absolutely 

invincible. 
As the discipline and tactics of the Prussian army 

were in high repute, vast numbers of foreign officers 

and strangers of distinction were attracted together 

on these occasions. The encampment formed by their 

tents resembled an immense city. 

La Fayette arrived at Pottsdam in September, 

1782, after the review was already begun. As soon 

as Frederick heard that General La Fayette was 

present, he despatched an aid de camp to invite 

him to the palace of Sans Souci. Here he had 



84 MEMOIRS OP 

several long audiences with him ; and after Frede- 
rick had expressed his admiration of Washington 
and of La Fayette, he took from a box his minia- 
ture set vvith diamonds, and kindly said, that since 
he was obliged to be separated from the General, he 
hoped this little memento would sometimes recall 
him to recollection, and then presented the minia- 
ture to La Fayette. 

When we reflect on the stern, unbending, and des- 
potic character of Frederick, we cannot but be as- 
tonished at the favourable reception of La Fayette, 
the champion of li*^erty, by one who had but little 
sympathy for his noble feelings. 

On La Fayette's return from Germany, in the 
commencement of 1783, he was very impatient for 
the consummation of the treaty between Great Bri- 
tain, France and America, and strongly represented 
to Louis and his ministers, that their assistance to 
America ought to be increased, in order to force 
Great Britain into a peace. It was in consequence 
of these representations, that the King gave him per- 
mission to return to America, and ordered Count 
d'Estaing to hold himself in readiness at Cadiz, vvith 
the French fleet, to transport 8,000 troops, which 
were on board, to America, as soon as La Fayette 
should join him. But news of the ratification of 
peace being in the mean time received, they did not 
sail. 



LA FAYETTE. S5 

In 1784, La Fayette received very pressing invi- 
tations from his friends in America, soliciting ano- 
ther visit, particularly from his adoptive father 
Washington, who had tendered his resignation to 
Congress after the war, and requested permission to 
retire to his country seat at Mount Vernon, Virgi- 
nia, where he wished again to see his beloved child, 
the companion of his arms, his troubles, and his glo- 
ry. La Fayette, not less anxious than himself, 
quickly arranged his affairs, and embarked at Havre 
on the 1st July, 1784, for North America. 

It is a spectacle equally affecting and instructive 
to see a great nation, which had freed itself after so 
many struggles, offering to one of its liberators, a 
young man only 27 years old, the only tribute free- 
men ought to pay ; that of acknowledging their 
gratitude for benefits received. I do not fear wound- 
ing his modesty by the recital of these things, for 
the history of the extraordinary proofs of admiration 
exhibited under so many forms, every where in the 
course of his journey over more than nineteen hun- 
dred miles, is universally known throughout the 
whole continent. 

Among the various incidents which we have re- 
corded, this voyage is not the least interesting. 
He crossed the Atlantic to visit again his beloved 
America, now united from the north to the south in 
bonds of union and independence; to see the difler- 

" 8 



86 MliMOIRS OP LA FAYETTE. 

ent states enjoying the blessings of peace, after being 
so long ravaged by a foreign army, and suffering 
under the accumulated evils of tyranny and war. 
He came to congratulate his friends and companions 
in arms, now again peaceable citizens, and to par- 
take with them the first fruits of their efforts, per- 
severance, and courage ; to pass some time on the 
banks of the Potomac, in the arms of his illustrious 
father, George Washington, the liberator of Ame- 
rica. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Account of the third voyage of La Fayette to the United 
States of America. 



La Fayette embarked on board of the. packet 
ship Courier, and arrived in New-York after a pas- 
sage of thirty-four days. 

As soon as his arrival was known, the officers 
who had served with him and under him, and ti.e 
citizens who had formerly been acquainted with him, 
left their business, and pressed to welcome him back 
to America, and to offer him their congratulations. 

Here, then, in the course of human events, did he 
find himself in the bosom of a city, in the peaceful 
possession of its former inhabitants, which he had 
so often viewed during the war from the opposite 
side of the Hudson, while yet under the power of the 
British. 

The day after his arrival he was invited to a pub- 
lic dinner, when all the officers appeared once 
more in their military accoutrements, which they 
had long since laid aside. Animation and happi- 
ness enlivened this repast of brothers and friends, 



88 MEMOIRS OF 

the first he iiad ever made upon this coDtinent since 
it was free. 

After remaining a short time in New-York, he 
went to Philadelphia, where he met the same warm 
and affectionate reception. The officers of the army 
and militia, together with the most respectable citi- 
zens, came in a body to meet him. They escorted 
liim to the Governor's house, and from thence to 
the lodgings prepared for him; and in the evening, 
every house in the city was illuminated. 

The nest day, Generals St. Clair, Wayne, and 
Irwine, were appointed a committee, from the corps 
of officers, to wait on La Fayette, with the congra- 
tulations of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania. It 
was not his friends and acquaintance alone, who 
thus expressed their heartfelt happiness at his re- 
turn. As soon as the Legislature of the state heard of 
it, they appointed a committee, composed of a dele- 
gate from each county, who presented him an ad- 
dress, in the name of the Legislature, apart of which 
is as follows : " The representatives of the free- 
men of Pennsylvania offer you their sincerest con- 
gratulations upon your happy arrival at Phila- 
delphia, and welcome you in the name of the 
state. Enjoying the blessings of liberty and peace, 
we contemplate with much satisfaction those dis- 
tinguished persons, who, disregarding the dangers 
of the seas, united their efforts to our own, to aid in 



LA FAYETTE. 89 

terminating the war. Amongst these illustrious in- 
dividuals we rank you the chief; your example and 
your zeal have animated and encouraged our own 
citizens, nor did yoii leave us until we had attained 
the great object of all our hopes."* 

This same Legislature, by a special act, erected 
into a county a large tract of country, by the name 
of La Fayette. The Governor was directed to ad- 
dress to La Fayette a letter on this occasion, which 
was written in the manly style of republican sim- 
plicity, and at once flattering to his pride and patri- 
otism. 

Anxious to accomplish the object of his voyage, 
which was to meet once more his beloved Wash- 
ington, he left Philadelphia on the 14th ; the next 
day he slept at Baltimore, and the day after he ar- 
rived at Mount Vernon. 

When we reflect upon the principal occurrences in 
the lives of these two illustrious men, the difterence of 
their ages, countries, the distance by which they were 
originally separated from each other; the circum- 
stances which brought them together; the importance 
of the scenes in which they had been engaged ; the 

* We must beg our leaders' indulgence once for all, for verbal dif- 
fereuces in those documents which were originall)' written in Eng- 
lish. It must be remembered that they are now translated from 
the French, and consequently have passed through two languages. 
It is believed that the ideas are preserved throughout. But we 
have not had time to procure the originals. Translator. 

8* 



90 MEMOIRS OF 

glorious success of their efforts ; their mutual anxiety 
to meet again; the tender, paternal regard on the 
one hand, and filial love on the other: when we re- 
flect on all this, we may in vain look for an exam- 
ple ; and yet still more was felt than is here attempt- 
ed to be described. 

After a stay of twelve days, the memory of which 
will long be dear to La Fayette, he left Mount Ver- 
non, and arrived on the thirty-first instant at Balti- 
more. We shall not weary our re 'iers with ac- 
counts of the enthusiasm which prevailed wherever 
he came; suffice it to say, the whole nation seemed 
actuated by one soul, so unanimous were the de- 
monstrations of joy everjavhere. 

After passing through the principal towns, in his 
route, from Maryland to Maine, in all which he was 
received with the same demonstrations of jo}' and 
gratitude, he returned to Boston, where he embark- 
ed in a frigate for the Chesapeake ; he thence re- 
turned to Mount Vernon, stopping at the principal 
towns through which he passed on his way. 

In 1784, most of the states, during the absence of 
General La Fayette, passed laws, naturalizing him 
and his male descendants. Among the rest, Mary- 
land passed the following one : " Whereas, the Ge- 
neral Assembly of the state of Maryland is desirous 
of perpetuating a name so dear to all, and to recog- 
nise theMarquis dela FayettCj for one of its own citl- 



LA FAYETTE. 91 

zeiis 5 one who, at the age of eighteen, left his coun- 
try, risked his life in the vicissitudes of the revolu- 
tion, Stc. Therefore, it is declared by the General 
Assembly of Maryland, that the Marquis de la Fay- 
ette, and his male descendants for ever, shall be, and 
each is hereby acknowledged and held as citizens 
born in this state, and henceforth shall enjoy the 
rights, privileges, and immunities of natural born 
citizens ; provided, that he conform himself to the 
constitution and laws of this state," &;c. &ic. 

At Annapolis La Fayette received the last pater- 
nal benedictions of Washington ; and took an af- 
fectionate farewell of his numerous friends. I leave 
to the reader to paint to himself the feelings of all 
parties, during this averting scene. After passing 
through Baltimore and Philadelphia, he arrived at 
Trenton, New-Jersey, on the eighth of December^ 
where he took leave of Congress, which had been 
convened there for some months past. IVom Tren- 
ton he went to New-York, where a frigate was 
waiting for him, and after a stay of ten days, he 
embarked at White-Hall for France. From the 
forts on the battery, the standard of the United 
States waved to him its stars and stripes, and thir- 
teen cannon announced the number of States that 
grieved over his departure. 

In casting our eyes over the journals of Con- 
gress, we feel pleasure in observing, how often that 



9'2> MEMOIRS OF 

body publicly expressed its approbation of Gene- 
ral La Fayette. 

We shall close this chapter with a few reflections 
suggested by the nature of these memoirs. The 
character of La Fayette in America, rests on a 
foundation which the strictest scrutiny would only 
render more firm. There is not, in his whole life, 
one moment in which he has not sustained the glo- 
rious reputation which we so much admire. I have 
already observed, that his steady courage was only 
to be equalled by bis prudence and military know- 
ledge, which endeared hini so much to the nation ; 
and we may even doubt, whether he appeared the 
more conspicuous for his prudence, or his benevo- 
lence. Among the innumerable instances of the 
latter, we shall only mention his saving Captain 
Butler, a British officer. It will serve as an ad- 
ditional illustration of the pitiful duplicity of Ar- 
nold, who, after his treachery, undertook to convince 
the British people that he hp.d always shed English 
blood with infioi'te regret. About the close of the 
year 1777, or the beginning of 1778, the Marquis ar- 
rived at Albany, at the moment Butler was about to 
be executed by the order of Arnold. Butler was 
certainly criminal; but the Marquis discovered that 
there had been some irregularity in the proceedings j 
and he took advantage of this to save him. 

The propeiisity in mankind to seek for blemish- 



LA FAYETTE. 93 

es in the character of men designed by nature to do 
honour to their species, is unknown in America. 
There no one is wounded by eulogiums bestowed 
upon deserving merit. There, envy is not always 
lurking to stab its victims in the dark. Washington 
and La Fayette have nothing to fear from Ameri- 
cans. Their histories will be but one continued 
eulogy, and yet the historian will run no risk of ac- 
cusation of partiality. When a man is known by a 
long series of virtuous actions ; when his conduct 
has been always wise, always noble, Americans re- 
quire some proof beyond simple rumour, before they 
entertain suspicions. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Short sketch of the political state of Europe, and of 
France in particular, at the commencement of the French 
Revolution. Of the part which La Fayette took in this 
event, till his appointment as Commander-in-chief of the 
French army. 



Before going farther, we shall give a short sketch 
oft he political state of Europe, and particularly of 
France; briefly noticing every event which has any 
connexion with General La Fayette. The tranquil- 
lity of Europe at the death of Louis XV. (10th of 
May, 1774,) was disturbed by the attempt, in Ame- 
rica, to throw off the government of England. The 
effort was successful, and the confederation of the 
United States, and the independence of the greater 
part of North America, was the result. The war, 
however, was carried on between the Americans, the 
English, the French and the Spaniards only, the 
other European states continuing in a state of neu- 
trality. The maritime powers, nevertheless, in order 
to make their neutrality respected, were obliged to 
form a coalition amongst themselves. 



LA FAYETTE. 95 

The treaty of Paris at length put an end to the 
war, and commerce was again renewed amongst the 
different nations. 

The Porte brought forward various causes of 
complaint against Russia, and Russia accused the 
Porte, in return, of having excited the Persians 
against her. Catharine II., ambitious of glory, and 
emboldened by success, was far from thinking her 
empire sufficiently extended by the partition of Po- 
land and the possession of the Crimea. Prussia 
and England, alarmed by the treaty of commerce 
which France had just concluded with Russia, (1787,) 
endeavoured to persuade the Turks that the cabi- 
net of Versailles had deserted them for the purpose 
of forming an alliance with Russia. The journey 
of Catharine into the Crimea, the raising a hundred 
thousand soldiers in the Ukraine, and an army of 
sixty thousand Austrians on the frontiers of Silesia, 
confirmed the belief, and a declaration of war be- 
tween the Sublime Porte and Russia and Austria 
was the consequence. 

Denmark, carefully preserving her neutrality, was 
constantly occupied in extending her commerce, and 
increasing her prosperity. 

The king of Sweden, oppressing his subjects by 
his very triumphs, and stimulated with vanity and 
ambition, waited with impatience for some opportu- 
nity to increase his power and extend his territories, 
by conquest. 



96 MEMOIRS OF 

Poland appeared resigned to the hard fate which she 
was unable to oppose, but still nourished a hope of 
revenge, which the breaking out of the war in the 
east seemed to afford an opportunity of gratifying. 

Prussia was threatened with the loss of Frederick, 
and with the prospect of seeing his nephew, who had 
formerly given great promise, abandon himself to 
pleasure, and tire charlatanism of the Uluminati, 
while he would feebly grasp the reins of govern- 
ment, which were held with so much firmness by his 
uncle. She meditated, however, the taking posses- 
sion of Dantzic, and profittingby the weak and tem- 
porizing course of France towards Holland. She 
therefore powerfully strengthened her influence, 
by sending the Duke of Brunswick, with 20,000 
men, into that country, who, in twenty days, took 
possession of the whole United Provinces, and 
placed them under the control of the Stadtholder. 
This step of Frederick William II. excited resent- 
ment everywhere in the minds of the friends of liber- 
ty, while, at the same time, it misled the despotic 
governments, by inducing the belief that the same 
means might succeed with equal facility elsewhere. 

Under the government of an elector, and of wise 
laws, Saxony was rapidly recovering from the evils 
with which the seven years' war had overwhelmed 
her. 

The republic of Holland was badly constructed, 



liA FAYETTE. 97 

audits defects produced frequent and violent distur- 
bances, in 1786, under the government of William 
v., who seemed destitute of the talents requisite for 
his situation. 

The Emperor Joseph II., discouraged by the re- 
sult of the seven years' war, as well as that on ac- 
count of the Bavarian succession in 1778, had 
been obliged to renounce the idea of reconquering 
Silesia, and of executing his projects upon Bavaria. 

Switzerland continued to enjoy, in the larger can- 
tons, rather quiet than liberty, which seemed to have 
taken refuge in the mountainous and less frequent- 
ed cantons. 

Italy, which had the good fortune to enjoy a 
peace of 40 years, appeared to be no longer subject 
to the storms which lowered over the rest of the 
world. 

Spain continued to be at once the poorest and 
richest nation on the globe. 

Portugal at this period was wholly dependent on 
England. 

Exhausted by a war of nearly six years' duration, 
carried on in every sea, and in both the Indies, and 
alarmed at the loss of her American colonies. Great 
Britain aimed at retrieving her affairs at the ex- 
pense of the preponderating powers, and again alter- 
ing the face of Europe. With this view, she commen- 
ced a system of intrigue and managemeut in the 

9 



9S MEMOIRS OF 

different cabinets, which resulted in a degree of suc- 
cess beyond her hopes. 

France, too proud, perhaps, of having aided in 
establishing the independence of the United States, 
enjoyed, under an excessively weak monarch, a state 
of tranquillity and apparent prosperity. She had 
just terminated, with glory, a war, which had 
given a final blow to her finances, a fact of which 
she seemed entirely ignorant. The overthrow of 
the British power in India, the capture of Canada, 
and perhaps of Jamaica, all seemed to be practica- 
ble, but neither of them was accomplished. After 
having consented, however, to the partition of Po- 
land, the invasion and humiliation of Holland, the 
capture of Dantzic, and the declaration of war 
against Turkey, France might still have succeeded 
in forming an alliance with Russia, Spain, and 
Austria, to oppose the growing ambition of England 
and Prussia. 

General La Fayette, after his return from Ameri- 
ca, interested himself strongly in the affairs of the 
Batavian patriots, while at the same time he was en- 
deavouring to procure a gradual manumission of the 
blacks, especially in the French colonies. In this 
benevolent scheme he expended a great deal of 
money and time ; and we have the best authority for 
saying, that had not the important events of the 
French revolution followed, with a rapidity whicli- 



LA FAYETTE, 99 

necessarily put a stop to his philanthropic exertions, 
he would have succeeded in meliorating the con- 
dition of that unfortunate people. 

At the age of 29, General La Fayette was agreea- 
l>ly surprised by an unexpected tribute of honour 
conferred upon him ; which was no less than a re- 
solution passed by the Legislature of the state of Vir- 
ginia to place his bust in the capitol. The follow- 
ing is an extract of a letter from Mr. Jefferson, 
Minister plenipotentiary^ of the United States, ad- 
dressed to the Prevot des Marchands and Munici- 
pality of Paris: 

" The Legislature of the state of Virginia, in 
consideration of the services of Major General the 
Marquis de La Fa^'ette, has resolved to place his 
bust in their capitol. This intention of erecting a 
a monument to his virtues, and to the sentiments 
with which he has inspired thpm, in the country to 
which they are indebted for his birth, has induced a 
hope that the city of Paris would consent to become 
the depository of a second proof of their gratitude. 
Charged by the state with the execution of this re- 
solution, I have the honour to solicit the Prevot des 
Marchands and Municipality of Paris to accept the 
bust of this brave officer, and give it a situation 
where it may continually awaken the admiration, 
and witness the respect, of the allies of France. 

'' Bated llth September, 1786." 



100 MEMOIRS OF 

In consequence of this letter, the Baron de Bre- 
teuil, Minister and Secretary of State, for the de- 
partment of Paris, wrote to the Prevot, &c., that 
the King, to whom had been submitted the propo- 
sition, approved of the bust's being erected by th^ 
city. Accordingly, the council assembled on the 
28th of September, and Mr. Short, an old member 
of the council of the state of Virginia, (Mr. Jeffer- 
son being confined by indisposition,) came to the 
city hall of Paris, to present the bust, executed by 
Mr. Houdon, and to read the letter addressed to 
the Prevot, &;c., by Mr. Jefferson, as also the re* 
solutions of the State of Virginia. Mr. Pelletier 
de Morfontaine, Counsellor of Staie, 2ind Prevot des 
Marchands, opened the meeting by stating its object, 
handed to Mr. Veytard, the chief clerk, all the 
documents he possessed, to read ; after which, Mr. 
Ethit de Corny, Attorney-General and Knight of the 
order of Cincinnatus, delivered an address, in which 
he recounted, in an interesting and impressive man- 
ner. La Fayette's services in North America, the 
confidence of the army in him, and attachment of 
the people to him. In his capacity of Attorney- Ge- 
neral, he gave the requisite instructions for the re- 
ception of the bust, agreeably to the wish of the 
King. It was, accordingly, placed in one of the 
galleries of the city hall. 



LAFAYETTE. lOf 

This interesting and novel ceremony produced 
upon the innumerable spectators the most affecting 
impressions. A gentleman who was present, made 
a very happy application of the remark of Taci- 
tus on GermanicuSj fruitur fama. 

The finances of France were so exhausted by the 
war between England and the United States, in 
which she took an active part, that several of the 
provinces found it impossible to pay their portion of 
taxation. Many of the farmers abandoned the lands 
of their ancestors, in those less fertile countries, where 
the harvests would not enable them to pay the sums 
levied by the merciless taxgatherer. The expenses 
of the state surpassed the means of payment ; the dis- 
orders of the court were at their greatest height, and 
unless some efficient means were immediately resort- 
ed to, a national bankruptcy would be inevitable. 
The King was sensible of this, but he had not firm- 
ness enough to set about a reform. The tempori- 
zing councils and weak politics of the Minister de 
Lomenie Brienne, and the too successful intrigues 
of the British court, crowned the misfortunes of 
France. 

The States General assembled at the commence- 
ment of 1787; and the Marquis was nominated one of 
the members of the committee under Count d'Artois. 
He there read four memorials, extremely interest- 
ing, and filled with sound practical views and plans 

9* 



102 MEMOIRS OF 

for the internal management of France. He exhi- 
bited frankly and ably to the King the wretched 
state of France, vitally wounded, demanding in 
every direction reform and abolition of numberless 
abuses, the suppression of lettres de cachet, and 
prisons of state. 

As much spirit had been evinced at the last meet- 
ing of the council, at which the Count d'x\rtois pre- 
sided, he could not avoid showing his dissatisfaction, 
especially to the Marquis ; but he, whose patriotism 
had been as disinterested and active as his courage and 
abilities had been useful to America, requested permis- 
sion to read another memorial, signed by himself, 
begging at the same time the Count d'Artois to sub- 
mit it to his Majesty in his (La Fayette's) own name. 
The committee having unanimously agreed to hear 
the memorial of La Fayette, and entirely approving 
of its contents, the Bishop of Langres promised to 
carry it to the assembly after Lent, together with all 
the proofs of the assertions it contained. 

Before the memorial was read, M. de la Fayette 
found himself placed in very delicate circumstances. 
The Count d'Artois had expressed his opinion, that 
it was decidedly too emphatic, and too personal, 
from the very first phrase, which ran nearly thus : 
'• We are requested by the King, in pointing out 
particular abuses, to subjoin our opinions with our 
signatures thereto. That which I commenced stating 



LA FAYETTE. 103 

last Saturday, (13th March,) is worthy of the earli- 
est attention. I shall profit by this permission, mv 
lord, with that zeal, impartiality and libert}', which 
I have ahvays exercised." 

Under these circumstances, more than ordinary 
presence of mind, added to very disinterested pa- 
triotism, were necessary to support liim. M. de la 
Fayette was not in the least intimidated ; and frank- 
ly replied to his Royal Highness, that he had 
the right by birth to lay his representations at the 
foot of the throne. 

Mr. de Castillon supported La Fayette, and 
amongst other things told him, that he would un- 
dertake to state, in behalf of all the members of the 
council, that his appeal was perfectly just; that 
they conceived themselves bound by a sense of 
duty to support him throughout ; and that the com- 
mittee would co-operate with him, in attempting to 
bring about a redress of the grievances of which he 
complained. Another of the members, hurried on 
by the warmth of his enthusiasm, said to La Fay- 
ette, " Your achievements in America had alreadv 
enrolled your name in the list of heroes ; but never 
before have you so justly deserved that glorious dis- 
tinction. How happy I should be, if there were a 
sculptor present, to perpetuate your zeal for the 
welfare of your country and your King." 

It was with much difficulty that La Fayette 



104 MEMOIRS OF 

could reply to this enthusiastic flattery ; after which 
he finished reading his memorial, addressing himselt 
to the president of the committee, Count d'Artois. 

He then demanded, successively, a series of re- 
forms ; the suppression of the prisons of state, and 
the lettres de cachet, called for the convocation of a 
national assembly, and obtained a resolution, fa- 
vouring the civil condition of the protestants, of 
whom, as well as of the patriotic Batavians, he had 
been at all times the warmest and most zealous pro- 
tector. 

Though possessed of large estates in Brittany,^ 
he joined the opposition party of that province; 
and when sent a deputy to the States General, he 
supported the motion of Mirabeau, for the removal 
of the troops. On the 11th of July, he proposed 
the first declaration of the rights of man and citi- 
zenship, and addressed the Assembly in these me- 
morable words. 

" Although my powers do not extend to me the 

* M. de La Fayette had inherited, in his own right and his wife's, 
very considerable property in Brittany, Auvergne, Brie, and par- 
ticularly in Touraine. All the tenants and peasantry attached to their 
estates cherished the warmest affection for this exemplary couple. 
They were beloved and blessed by many thousands, whom they had 
rescued from the depths of misery ; and all the lands of La Fayette 
were distinguished from those belonging to other proprietors, by 
the ease and comfort of the tenants, among whom was nQt to be 
found a single mendicant or idler. 



LA FAYETTE. 105 

right of voting among you, it is my duty to lay my 
opinion before you. 

" You have been presented with the declaration 
of rights, as the first object of your labour and at- 
tention. 

" That declaration is indispensable. It is not 
founded upon metaphysical opinions, but upon the 
very basis of social order. 

" It is of the first importance that those rights 
which are engraven on every man's heart, should be 
distinctly and unequivocally recognised. 

"Yet it is my opinion that this declaration should 
be confined to a statement of the unalienable rights 
of man, and of man, as we find him, in a state of 
society. 

" I have now the honour to submit the first model 
of such a declaration. 

" I am far from insisting that it shall be adopted 
as it is ; 1 only ask that it be copied, to be circula- 
ted freely among the different committees. 

M. de Lally Tolendal arose, and said, " With the 
exception of a few lines, which admit, perhaps, of 
some little discussion, I second the motion which has 
just been offered. All the principles contained there- 
in are the sacred emanations of truth ; all the sen- 
timents are noble, and sublime. The author of the 
motion now displays as much eloquence in speaking 
of liberty, as he has already shown courage in de- 
fending it " 



106 MEMOIRS OF 

General La Fayette then required that the Minis- 
ters should hold themselves responsible for all the acts 
done in the name of the King. He presided in the 
Assembly during the stormy sittings of the 1 3th and 
14th, and in the deputation sent to Paris. He was 
proclaimed Commander-in-chief — caused the order to 
demolish the Bastile to be published — received the 
King on the 1 7th July, at the head of 200,000 armed 
men — instituted the tri-coloured cockade, and organi- 
zed the National Guard of Paris and of the kingdom at 
large. After having rescued various persons from the 
fury of the mob, in despair at being unable to save 
Foulon and Berthier, he gave in his resignation, 
and although strongly and repeatedly solicited to 
resume the command, he firmly refused; while, 
at the same time, he declined receiving any pay 
for his services, or any indemnity for the expen- 
ses which his office had obliged him to incur. To 
the solicitations of the Assembly of the representa- 
tives of the municipality of Paris on this point, he 
made the following answer, on the 30th September, 
1790, a reply strongly indicative of the disinterested- 
ness and patriotic spirit of its author : " My private 
fortune secures me from want ; it has outlasted two 
revolutions ; and should it survive a third, through 
the complaisance of the people, it shall belong to them 
alone." 

On the 5th of October, a troop of desperadoes 
proceeded in a threatening manner to Versailles ; he 
immediately put the National Guard in motion, and 



LA FAYETTE. 1 07 

arrived in season to save the life of the King, his fami- 
ly, and body guard, on the famous day of the 6th, ac- 
cording to the opinion of all the world. Here, 
amongst others, he took the hand of the Queen, 
against whom the mob was most enraged, and who 
was afraid to appear before them, led her, with the 
Dauphin on the other side, into the balcony, and pre- 
sented them to the people. Tearing the tri-colour- 
ed cockade from liis own hat, he attached it to that 
of the young prince, and kissed the hand of the 
Queen. This bold and gallant conduct was loudly 
applauded, and the royal family, in consequence, sa- 
ved. He then conducted the King to Paris, where 
he was followed by the Assembly. 

General La Fayette served, with the same devo- 
tedness, the cause of the revolution, the interest of 
the people, public and individual freedom, and reli- 
gious and civil liberty. He repeatedly demanded the 
suppression of disorder, the establishment of juries, 
the civil rights of men of colour, and the abolition of 
hereditary nobility. 

It is well known that he refused the office of Dic- 
tator, of Lieutenant General of the kingdom, and of 
grand Constable.* 

Through his influence, a decree was made that the 
command of the national guard of more than one de- 
partment should not be intrusted to a single individir- 

* See the Memoires de Bouill^, p. 119. 



108 MEMOIRS OP LA FAYETTE. 

al, and this, at the moment when fourteen thousand 
persons, deputed from four milhons of armed citizens, 
were sohciting him to take command of them. In 
their name, he took the oath of citizenship, in the 
Champ de Mars, at the confederation of 1790. 

At the time of the King's attempt to leave the coun- 
try. La Fayette was exposed to great danger, but 
his popularity, and the confidence which the na- 
tion placed in the soundness of his views and disin- 
terestedness of his conduct, enabled him to overcome 
. it. The charge advanced by the republicans against 
\ him, of conniving with the King, was no less ab- 
1 surd than that maintained by the Royalists, of his con- 
(^ spiracy against him. 

The intention of La Fayette was not to re-ac- 
knowledge the regal power of Louis XVL, till he ac- 
l"^ cepted the decree which placed him on a constitu- 
* tional throne. He soon after dispersed, by force, an 
armed multitude, unfriendly to the decree, collected 
in the champ de Mars, and had even the courage to 
fire upon the crowd. After having caused the am- 
nesty proposed by the King to be accepted, he re- 
signed his commission, and retired to his estate of 
Chavagnac, in Auvergne. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Causes of his leaving France. Account of his confinement 
in the fortresses of Luxemburg, Wesel, Magdeburg, Glatz, 
Neisse, and Olrautz. Description of this last prison, and of 
his treatment while there. 



When information was received that the Prus- 
sians and Austrians were preparing to commence 
hostilities against France, the Assembly was much 
embarrassed in the selection of commanders. La 
Fayette was, in consequence, recalled, and in 
conjunction with Marshals Luckner and Rocham- 
beau, formed a plan to invade the Low Coun- 
tries. General La Fayette, at the head of 50,000 
men, was to have undertaken the execution of the 
project, in which he was to be supported by 
Rochambeau with a second army, while a third 
was to seize upon Mayence. This plan, however, 
failed. General La Fayette was then ordered to 
march with 10,000 men to Givet, for the purpose of 
attacking Namur. Destitute of camp equipage, 
provisions, and the means of transportation, it seem- 

10 



110 MEMOIRS OF 

ed like an attempt to throw upon him the odium of 
the failure of the whole expedition. Notwithstanding 
the obstacles which he had to encounter, he arrived 
on the appointed day at the camp, but found no 
measures taken for carrying the town. As the at- 
tempt upon Mons by another army had failed, he 
received orders from Dumouriez, the Minister of 
War, to discontinue the attack upon Namur. 

Marshal Rochambeau, disgusted by the base in- 
trigues of his enemies, resigned his commission ; the 
command of the army, in consequence, devolved 
upon Marshal Luckner and General La Fayette; the 
first of whom was directed to cover the frontier from 
the Rhine to Montmedy, and the other from Mont- 
raedy to Dunkirk. The adv^anced guard of La 
Fayette was placed at Grisvelle, in front of Mau- 
beuge. The troops of the intrenched camp were 
directed to march upon the right flank of the enerny ; 
the orders were executed in a dilatory manner, and 
the columns arrived just as the Austrians were re- 
treating upon Mons. 

The division at Grisvelle retreated upon Mau- 
beuge. La Fayette afterwards took a position at 
Bavay, and Luckner took possession of Courtrai, 
but did not follow up his advantages. 

Immediately after the arrival of General La Fay- 
ette at the camp, he commenced a reorganization of 
it, improved the discipline, introduced simplicity 
in the millitary administration, formed bodies 



LA FAYETTE. Ill 

of light artillery, established military councils 
and courts martial, appointed an excellent staff 
of officers ; in a word, he exerted all his powers in 
discipliningJiis troops and supplying their necessi- 
ties. 

The Jacobin faction, a formidable association, 
began at this time to gain strength, and to disseminate 
their principles throughout France. The first step 
of this society, formed of fanatics, who invariably 
adopted the most violent measures, was, to calum- 
niate General La Fayette, he being the most pro- 
minent individual amongst the friends of a constitu- 
tional government. As soon as he was informed of 
their base machinations, he denounced them to the 
Legislative Assembly, in a letter dated the I6th of 
June. 

The proceedings of the ^Oth June clearly an- 
nounced a second revolution at hand ; the friends 
and supporters of good order in vain hoped to pre- 
vent it. The insubordination of the army, the ap- 
proach of the enemy, their early success, the weak- 
ness of the court, and the contempt it inspired, the 
division in the Legislative Assembly, the popular 
fanaticism, excited by the political clubs, with which 
France was filled, all contributed to render the ca- 
tastrophe inevitable. 

La Fayette wished to make a last effort to oppose 
a revolution, which seemed ready to throw his 
coiTntryj torn by domestic faction, into foreign 



112 MEMOIRS OF 

hands. Charged with addresses, signed by a great 
number of ofiicers and soldiers, who complained 
with energy of the blow aimed against the constitu- 
tion by the factions, he dared to enter Paris alone, 
and presenting himself to the Legislative body, he 
remonstrated with firmness, but with the little suc- 
cess which wisdom usually meets when it pleads 
against the passions. 

He relied much upon the promptness and impo- 
sing character of the National Guard, but this 
body, intimidated by the populace, did not second 
his wishes ; it dared not step forward and aid, by 
its presence, a courage which secret and barren 
wishes rendered of no avail. The popularity which 
La Fayette had always preserved, and of which his 
enemies in vain tried to deprive him, was of no far- 
ther use than to temper the fury of the Jacobins^ 
who were determined to be satisfied with nothing 
less than his proscription. He returned to the army, 
and proposed to the King to anticipate the resolves 
of the Assembly, by going to Compeigne, where he 
would protect his person and the constitution, by his 
brave and faithful soldiers. The King refused to follow 
this advice, either because he still possessed preju- 
dices against those who commenced the revolution, 
©r because his natural weakness led him to regard 
a state of inaction as less dangerous than any other, 

The Queen was at this period so strongly per- 



LAFAYETTE. liS 

snaded, that every proceeding of the court would 
appear criminal to the suspicious demagogues, that 
she answered the aid de camp of General La Fay- 
ette, that " perhaps the happiest situation in which 
we could be placed, in this state of popular fermen- 
tation, would be a confinement in some tower, till 
the event of this critical period is known." 

It has appeared since, from the memoirs of differ- 
ent royalists, and especially frprn those of Mr. Hue, 
first valet-de-chambre of the present King, Louis 
XVIII.5 printed in Paris in 1814, that the refusal, 
which was attributed to the decision of the court it- 
self, and to the repugnance felt for the patriots, 
arose in reality from a letter written by the Duke of 
Brunswick, from head-quarters at Coblentz, con- 
juring the King to remain at Paris, till the allied 
troops came to meet him ! 

General La Fayette, accused in his turn before 
the Assembly, by the Jacobins, was acquitted by a 
large majority, being upwards of two thirds of the 
votes. The next day, the 9th of August, was one 
of triumph to the Jacobins, for in consequence of 
the ill treatment which some of the members recei- 
ved from them, the Assembly declared its sessions 
no longer free ! 

After the events of the lOtb of August, distrust 
reigned every where, and legal authority was at an 
end. The French nation had strongly expressed \ 

10* 



114 IvrEMOIRS OF 

their wish to live under a free monarchy, and their 
representatives had just violated the constitution, 
and imprisoned their monarch, whose person had 
been declared inviolable. From this moment, the 
same troubles, the same disorders, the same divi- 
sions, which agitated the capital, reigned in the 
army. A great part of the Generals and other offi- 
cers felt indignant at the proceedings of the 10th 
of August, and many of the subalterns, hoping to 
succeed them, allied themselves with the new heads 
of government, and affected to treat as traitors all 
those who did not approve of the resolutions of 
Paris. 

The great body of the soldiery, at first obedient to 
their leaders, had renewed the oath of fidelity to the 
constitution; but, as it always happens to the multi- 
tude, novelty, success, seductions, and suspicions 
insinuated with address, soon staggered their fidelity'. 

The knowledge of the country, and the move- 
ments of the enemy, made it obvious to the French 
commanders, that the Prussians wished to enter the 
kingdom by the way of Longvi, and they deter- 
mined to direct all their measures of defence upon 
the frontiers of Champagne and Mesin. In this way, 
the command of the troops was divided between 
Marshal Luckner and General La Fayette. 

The army had been increased by an abundance 
of reqruitSj as soldiers of the line, and of volunteers; 



LAFAYETTE. 115 

but the enemies of La Fayette had, hi the distribu- 
tion of the new-raised forces, given him but one 
third of the recruits, although he had one half of 
the frontier to defend. 

Luckner was particularly directed to meet the 
attack of the Prussians in front, while La Fayette 
should harrass them in the flank. The Duke of 
Saxe-Teschen, in order to divide the French forces^ 
had sent a corps of Austrian troops into Flanders, 
on the side of Bavav ; La Favette and Luck- 
ner, who were not deceived by this feint, order- 
ed Dumouriez to quit his situation in the camp of 
Maulde, where he had uselessly shut up his troops, and 
to come and join them. Dumouriez exaggerated the 
dangers of the march of the Austrians, as well as 
the importance of the place he occupied, and dis- 
obeyed his orders. The Jacobins of Paris ap- ^^ 
proved of his conduct, and proclaimed La Fayette / 
a traitor. He ordered General Dillon to arrest 
Dumouriez. Dillon dared not execute this order, 
and Luckner and La Fayette, finding themselves 
deprived of the means upon which they had relied, 
were no longer able to Vfithstand an army of 70,000 
men, which was advancing under the orders of the 
King of Prussia. 

Thus the disobedience of Dumouriez was in a great 
measure the cause which rendered the early pro- 
gress of the enenay so easy and rapid, The veil 



K*" 



IIG MEMOIRS OF 

which covered his motives was thrown off, the mo- 
ment his amhition was gratified by succeeding La 
Fayette in the command of the army 5 not only the 
fortifications of Mauide lost all their importance in 
his eyes, but, not believing himself in a state to resist 
the enemy with his own forces added to those of 
Luckner, he called upon General Kellerman to join 
him with the troops he commanded in Alsace. The 
Legislative Assembly, believing it an object of pri- 
mary importance to secure the troops in their favour, 
sent commissioners to the army, to inform them of 
the revolution of the 10th of August. 

False reports, unfaithful descriptions, absurd de- 
nunciations, pompous declamation, a charlatanic 
pretension to principles already violated, deceitful 
promises of advancement, skilful corruption, every 
thing was done to inspire the soldiery with a hatred 
of the captive King, with enthusiasm for the Assem- 
bly, with distrust of those Generals who werg^fjjithful 
to the constitution, and with ardour for the support 
of a new order of things, which should give to the 
poor the wealth of the rich, and the oflices of supe- 
riors to their subalterns. 

The approach of the enemy, the suspicions which 
the arming of the emigrants inspired against those 
of their class, the indignation produced by foreign 
royal manifestoes, the discontent caused by the want 
of success in the first military operations, and the 



LA FAYETTE. 117 

general impulse which had been given since 1789 
against the throne and nobility, powerfully second- 
ed the efforts of the commissioners of the Assembly. 

Some of the Generals made an ineffectual attempt 
to oppose reason to passion, fidelity to intrigue, and 
resistance to revolt. Their adherents, few and luke- 
warm, were soon swept away by the general deli- 
rium. Some ofiicers emigrated, others, protesting 
against the competency of the Legislative body, 
declared they would await the decision of the con- 
vention. 

Bureau de Puzy, Latour Maubourg, and Alexan- 
dre Lameth, in vain, exhibited more firmness. Lti 
Fayette, braving the menaces of the new government, 
and resisting the tempting offers, which they made 
him, desirous of defending to the last moment the 
constitution to which he had sworn fidelity, caused Q 
tKemunicipaiity of Sedan to arrest the Commission- ' 
ers of Paris. But soon, abandoned by his army, and 
informed that they were about to execute the de- 
cree of accusation, which had been declared against 
him, he found himself obliged to fly his country, to 
avoid the scaftpld they were preparing for him. 

He invited his three friends, Generals Louis La- 
tour Maubourg, Alexandre Lameth, and the com- 
mandant of Engineers, Bureau de Puzy, to come at 
midnight on the 19th of August into his tent, in 
order to confer upon important affairs. They there 



118 MEBIOIRS OF 

deliberated on the steps which it was necessary to taiie. 
To march upon Paris, and there attempt to crush 
the growing faction, was to expose themselves and 
troops to certain destruction ; to remain at the head 
of the army, was to insure the death of the brave 
men under their command, exposed as they were 
between two fires ; (the enemy on the one side and 
the Jacobins on the other ;) to treat with the enemy 
was rejected as unworthy and impracticable. It 
was then decided amongst them, that they would 
leave an ungrateful country, governed by a faction 
which sought the destruction of the most pure and 
respectable of her inhabitants ; that they would 
cross Brabant, and reach Holland, from whence they 
i would embark for the United States of America, and 
|remain there till a new order of things took place.^ 
I Early the next day, the 20th of August, the Com- 
mander-in-chief accompanied by his three friends, 
who had been members of the Constitutional As- 
sembly with him, and who were alone in the secret, 
together with the aides de camp, and a part of his 
Staff, mounted on horseback, as if to reconnoitre. 
Arrived at an inn, about two leagues and a half from 
the camp, he dismounted, and ascended into a room 

* I have these details, and the following, which are very little 
known, from General La Fayette, General Victor Latour Mau- 
|)Ourg, and his aides de camp, Auguste Masson, Rene Fillet, Loiris 
RpoioeufF, Charles Cadignan, &c^ &c. 



LA FAYETTE. 119 

on the second floor, followed by 23 officers, who had 
accompanied him. At the same time he ordered the 
commander of his escort to establish sentinels, in 
order to prevent a surprise from the enemy's pat- 
roles. What was the astonishment of these officers, 
when the General confided to them, in a concise and 
energetic discourse, the state of France, the feelings 
of the army, and that the Duke of Orleans, the 
society of Jacobins, and the municipality of Paris, 
had devoted him to proscription ; that the corpora- 
tion of the same city had caused the dies of the 
medal struck in his honour to be broken by the 
hands of the common executioner; that, he was 
declared the enemy of his country, ahcl a price set 
upon his head ! He finished, by telling them of his 
determination to quit the country for a time, and 
that he should consider as her enemy, any man 
who should propose to march against her ; that he 
had rather perish a thousand times, than allow the 
blood of a single one of his fellow citizens to be shed 
on his account. 

Notwithstanding this injunction, these young sol- 
diers unanimously declared, that there was but one 
way left 'to save their country and their General, 
which was to march directly upon Paris, and to dis- 
perse the Jacobin faction at once. Amongst the 
most strenuous on this subject, were tbfl aides de 
camp and staff officers, Victor Latour Manbourg, 



120 MEMOIRS OF 

the younger brother of General Louis Maubourg, 
Rene Pillet, Auguste Masson de Laumois, Gouviou 
junior, the two brothers, Romoeuff, Cadignan, &c. 
Szc. The General ordered, and even supplicated, 
these officers to return to the camp, that their ab- 
sence might not be injurious to them. In vain he 
represented to them all the dangers to which they 
exposed themselves and families in emigrating; 
nothing could oppose the resolution of Louis and 
Victor Latour Maubourg, Bureau de Puzy, Alexan- 
dre Lameth, Auguste Masson, Rene Pillet, and Ca- 
dignan,* to accompany their General and friend, 
and share his fortune. His faithful valet-de-cham- 

bre, Felix Pontonnier, and Augustus D , one of 

his servants, who since voluntarily shared all his im- 
prisonments from Luxemburg to Olmutz, were eager 
to follow their master. The rest were persuaded by 
the General to return, and to take with them his 
escort, consisting of 150 men from the 24th regi- 
ment of cavalry, who at first refused to leave their 
Commander-in-chief and their brave Colonel Victor 
Latour Maubourg. 

* All these gentlemen, with the exception of Generals Louis Mau- 
bourg, Lameth, and Col. de Puzy, believed this movement of the 
Commander-inrchief to have been made solely for the purpose of 
reconnoitring, and of course took neither baggage nor money with 
them. Even La Fayette himself had not two hundred lours in his 
possession. 



LA FAYETTE. 121 

La Fayette at length set out, with his seven com- 
panions, harassed with disagreeable reflections 
upon his situation, that of his family and country, 
and upon the dangers which threatened him. After 
a rapid and uninterrupted journey, they arrived to- 
wards night in the neighborhood of an advanced 
guard of Austrians. Here they halted, and delibe- 
rated upon the steps to be taken. It was nearly 
eleven o'clock, none of them knew the road, and the 
darkness was so great as to render it impossible to 
find it. In this state of embarrassment, fearful 
at the same time of being pursued and overtaken by 
the French, they determined at all risks to 
proceed, and without discovering their names 
or rank, to demand of ihe Austrian commander, per- 
mission to pass him, and take refuge in Holland, at 
that time a neutral territory. This resolution being 
taken, Col. de Puzy, the only individual who un- 
derstood German, advanced towards the Austrian 
officer, who received him very politely. He in- 
formed iiim that he and his companions had desert- 
ed from the French army, finding themselves com- 
pelled to leave the country in consequence of in- 
trigue and faction, and desired a safe conduct into 
Holland. The officer expressed to him, in good 
French, his regrets that he was unable to give a 
decided answer without first consulting his superior, 
but that in the mean time he and his friends 

11 



122 MEMOIRS OF 

were welcome to rest and refreshment, as the niglit 
was cold and rainy. After de Puzy had returned 
to the General and made his report, they advanced 
towards the picket, who, at first, alarmed at their 
numbers, placed themselves in a posture of defence. 
They soon after set out, accompanied l;y an escort, 
for the Austrian head-quarters, and were at length 
conducted to Luxemburg. 

Immediately upon their arrival at this fortress, 
they were recognised by a crowd of refugees, who, 
looking upon them as the first promoters of the re- 
volution, treated them with the utmost insolence and 
contempt. Amongst the most virulent of these en- 
raged emigrants. Prince de Lambes rendered 
himself notorious by his abuse of La Fayette, 
who seemed more particularly the object of his 
hatred. As soon as the Governor of Luxemburg 
recognised the General and his companions, he con- 
fined them in separate chambers at the inn where 
they had stopped, placing a sentinel at each door. 
They protested, in vain, against this proceeding, and 
wrote to the Duke of Saxe Teschen for the purpose 
of obtaining passports. Their refusal was accom- 
panied by the useless and savage threat of a public 
execution ; and they remained in a state of close con- 
finement till the Governor received orders from the 
court of Vienna, to deliver them into the hands of 
the King of Prussia. They were transported in a 



LA FAYETTE. 123 

common cart, like criminals, under guard of a strong 
escort of cavalry, during the night, from Luxem- 
burg to Wesel, and confined in the common jails 
of the country when they found it necessary to stop. 
The valet-de-chambre of La Faj^ette alone obtain- 
ed permission to ride in the same cart with his mas- 
ter. The Austrians sold their horses, arms, &tc. and 
retained the money. 

Arrived at Wesel, the populace collected in crowds, 
and insulted them in the most savage manner. Here 
they were again put in irons, placed in separate 
ceils in the castle, deprived of all intercourse and 
exercise, and were daily told " that the King intend- 
ed to have them hanged for wretches who deserved 
no favour." 

This act of tyranny, exercised over men whose 
opinions had been received with enthusiasm by the 
greater part of France, was an additional stain upon 
the character of Frederick William IL, who pro- 
mised, at the commencement of his reign, so many fine 
things, and who finished it by the ruin of his coun- 
try, and the dissipation of an immense treasure, 
amassed by the great Frederick with so much care. 
What shall we say of the miserable Austrian monarch, 
who, like a sergeant of police, consented to surren- 
der these illustrious refugees without shame or re- 
morse ! 

The consequences of these cruelties were eventual- 



124 MEMOIRS OF 

ly as mischievous to those who committed them as 
to those who suffered. Prussia and Austria plainly 
indicated by this, the violent measures they intended 
to pursue, should the counter-revolution succeed. 
These two cabinets were the faithful allies of the 
Jacobin faction, and certain it is, they did all in their 
power to serve it; for from that time, a majority of 
the French nation were confirmed in the fears they 
had entertained of the projects of the Prussian and 
Austrian armies, if they ever entered France. Every 
one feared the resentment of the emigrants of the 
league. The new government well knew how to avail 
itself of this disposition to inspire them with zeal. 
All of the Generals who had before wavered, now 
obeyed the orders of the Assembly, and the soldiers 
swore to conquer or die; and the great mass of the na- 
tion, rallying around the government, flew to arms to 
expel this cruel and sanguinary enemy from the 
country. 

Universal indignation was excited. General Wash- 
ington and his countrymen were filled with grief; 
they saw in the captive La Fayette the hero of their 
liberties, and the brave companion of their toils. 
The government of the United States warmly es- 
poused the cause of ihe unhappy prisoners. The 
leading members of the opposition in parliament, 
Fitzpatrick, Fox, Sheridan, Bedford, and, many 
others, loudly exclaimed against it; but the Eng- 



LA FAYETTE. 125 

lisli Minister remained mute and unmoved, when a 
single word from him would have freed them. Might 
not this have been owing to La Fayette's taking so 
active an interest in the. American revolution.^ This 
has been openly and repeatedly asserted, and never 
contradicted, and we leave to posterity to decide 
whether it be true. 

La Faj-ette suffered excessive apprehension on 
account of his wife and three children, of whom the 
eldest was then, at the request of Washington, at Mount 
Vernon, and at length feii sick. General Maubourg 
was not permitted to see his friend, though at the point 
of death. But the disease chanced to take a fa- 
vourable turn, and he began to recover. The King 
of Prussia, hoping to profit by his languid state, 
now offered to meliorate his condition, provided he 
would betray his country ; but he soon learned, by 
a decided refusal. La Fayette's contempt of his pro- 
position. The rigour of his confinement was then 
redoubled, and soon after the prisoners were all put 
into a cart and transported to Magdeburg, and all 
information relative to their families refused, at a 
time, too, when the French proscripdon was at its 
most alarming height. 

In conveying them in this manner, it was thought 
public scorn would be excited ; but this expectation 
was disappointed. The liveliest interest was every 
where excited in their behalf. They were con? 

11* 



126 MEMOIRS OF 

fined a whole year at Magdeburg, in a damp, subter- 
ranean dungeon; but notwithstanding this, their lot 
was more tolerable, as they were together, and al- 
lowed occasionally to walk an hour on the bastions. 
The King of Prussia now ordered La Fayette to 
be transported to Silesia ; Maubourg solicited and 
obtained permission to accompany him ; they were 
conveyed to Glatz, where soon after Bureau de Puzy 
followed them. Alexandre Lameth, being dangerous- 
ly ill, could not be transported along with his com- 
panions. His mother, who was distinguished for 
her virtues, obtained of Frederick William, after 
much solicitation, permission for him to remain in 
prison in his states ; and when at length peace was 
declared between this King and the French, she 
prevailed upon him to grant him his liberty. The 
King the more readily granted this, because he did 
not feel himself obliged any longer to use his former 
caution towards the court of Vienna, now exaspe- 
rated at him for withdrawing from the league. The 
prisoners were at length transferred W Neisse, and 
although their dungeon here was even more misera- 
ble and unhealthy than the former ones, yet they 
rejoiced at the change, because it brought the three 
prisoners together again, and moreover added to 
their society Madame Maisonneuve, who voluntarily 
came to share the fate of her brother Maubourg. 
The King of Prussia^ in order not to have his 



LA FAYETTE. 127 

Victims snatched out of his possession, when he made 
peace with France, concluded to send them into 
Austria. They were accordingly conveyed to Ohinutz. 

When they reached that place, they were stripped 
of what little the Prussians had left, which was in 
fact nothing but their watches and buckles, and two 
books, in which the word freedom occurred rather 
more frequently than suited the government ; where- 
upon La Fayette inquired " if they were contra- 
band." They were each informed, as they were in- 
carcerated in their separate cells, that they would 
never again see any thing but the four walls of their 
prison house ; that they would never again hear a 
human voice ; that their very names were proscri- 
bed, and that in future they would be designated in 
despatches to government by the numbers of their 
respective cells ; and, lest they should destroy them- 
selves, knives, forks, and every thing that could 
be used for the purpose, would be interdicted. 

The three prisoners, thus abandoned to their mise- 
rable reflections, were immured in the dungeons of 
the ancient castle of the Jesuits, the walls of which 
are twelve feet thick; and into which air is admit- 
ted through an opening two feet square, which is se- 
cured at each end by transverse massive iron bars. 
Immediately before these loop holes was a broad 
ditch, which was covered with water only when it 
raiined, and at other times was a stagnant marsh, 



128 MEMOIRS OF 

fromwhicli a poisonous efflisviura was constantly ex- 
haling; and beyond this were the outer walls of the 
castle, which prevented the slightest breeze from 
passing to the captives in these horrid dungeons, 
although the heat was almost intolerable. On these 
walls were, in the daytime, four, and at night, eight 
sentinels, with loaded muskets, constantly watching 
the prisoners, and forbidden, on pain of one hundred 
lashes, to speak a word with them, and with orders 
to shoot them dead if they attempted an escape. The 
cellar of this castle had a large saloon, two hun- 
dred feet long and twelve wide, in which vvas kept 
a guard consisting of. an officer and tvventy-five men, 
and a corporal and four soldiers, who alternately 
kept guard before the door of the prisoners. These 
soldiers were forbidden, while on duty, either to sing, 
speak, or whistle. 

As this castle had served for a prison for four 
years previously to La Fayette's confinement, there 
had been constructed for each cell two doors, one of 
iron, the other of wood, near two feet thick. Both 
were covered with bolts, and bars, and double pad- 
locks. Every time the Inspector of the prisons 
entered, the whole guard stood to their arms. Four 
raen were posted at each side of the door ; the ser- 
geant with his sword drawn remained without, while 
the officer of the guard entered the inner door, with 
his sword also drawn. The men crossed their bayp- 



liA FAYETTE. 129 

nets, while the Inspector examined every corner and 
crevice with the greatest minuteness. When the 
jailer entered with their wretched pittance, twice a 
day, it was scrupulously examined, particularly the 
bread, which: was crumbled to pieces for the purpose, 
by the officer on guard, to discover if there was any 
note or communication whatever contained in it. 
A wretched bed of rotten straw, filled with vermin, 
together with a broken chair, and an old worm-eat- 
en table, formed the whole furniture of each apart- 
ment. The cells were eight or ten paces deep, and six 
or eight wide ; and when it rained, the water ran 
through the loop holes and off the walls in such 
quantities, that they would sometimes wake in the 
morning, wet to the skin. A miserable lamp lighted 
them in the night, and when the sun did not shine, 
which happened very frequently in this wet countr}^ 
the prisoners remained almost in total darkness du- 
ring the whole day. Such was the situation of 
these three illustrious men ; and the faithful fellows, 
Felix and Augustus, who had followed their master 
through all his reverses, fared no better. The bar- 
barous Austrians, born and nurtured in slavery, were 
dead to all virtuous feeling, and sneered at their at- 
tachment to their master. Once in a while, indeed, 
they were allowed to visit him, but not to approach 
within the door, and always with the accustomed 
ceremonies. 



CHAPTER X. 



Sensation produced abroad in consequence of the cruel 
treatment of La Fayette, Louis Latour Maubourg and 
Bureau de Puzy. Proceedings of the government of the 
United States. Debates in the English Parliament. Con- 
duct of the Germans. Dr. Bollmann, and his departure 
from Hamburg to Olmutz and Vienna. Project of Huger 
and Bollmann to rescue La Fayette from his confinement 
at Olmutz. Situation of the friends of the prisoners con- 
fined at Olmutz. Other particulars new and charac- 
teristic* 



The government of the United States, the illus- 
trious Washington filling at the time the presidential 
chair, had, in repeated memorials to the cabinets of 
Vienna, Berlin and St. James, claimed the impri- 
soned La Fayette as an American citizen, and Ma- 
jor General of the American army. 

* We have attentively read the accounts which have been given 
of the attempts of Bollmann and Huger, to release General La Fay- 
ette from the prison of Olmutz, as they are published in the His-' 
toire des principaux evenemens du r'p.gne de Frederic Guillaume 
IL, Sec. by the Count de Segur, (vol, HI. p. 299,) in the Memoires 
pouT ssrvir a le vie du Gen, La Fayelle^ par M. Regnault, (Warin, 



MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETTE. 131 

All the three courts, however, persisted in main- 
taining an inflexible silence. The conduct of the 
two first, inhuman and disgraceful as it was, need 
occasion no sort of surprise. The autocrats of 
Austria and Prussia, sworn enemies of every liberal 
and philosophic sentiment, and of all opinions fa- 
vourable to the sacred rights of man, had great 
reason to fear, to hate, and to persecute men, who, 
like La Fayette, had explicitly and fearlessly 
avowed them. They had good reason to apprehend 
that their tottering thrones, upheld exclusively by 
tyranny and terror, would fall to the ground, the 
moment that their subjects could conceive the idea 
of imitating America and France in the example 
of their glorious enterprises. 

Paris, 1824, volume I. p. 265, 266J and also in the Edin- 
burgh Annual Register for 1809, (p. 514 ;) and the reader, in 
comparing these accounts with ours, will no doubt be struck with 
the difference. The reason is simple. Mine is the result of near- 
ly 20 months of personal exertion in aiding the attempt to effect the 
release of the General and his friends from the dungeons of 01- 
mutz ; in the course of which I was four times at Olmutz, twice at 
Braunseiffen, in the very house where General La Fayette was ar- 
rested, with Dr. Bollmann. I have had more than twenty personal 
intirviews with Mr. Sieveking at Hamburg, the banker Hirst, 
General Baron de Schroter, governor of Olmutz, Count Maquelico, 
Inspector of the Prisons, the head surgeon of the garrison of Ol- 
mutz, Mr. Kreutske, professor Passy, all of whom personally assist- 
ed Bollmann and Huger in this enterprise. This chapter and the 
following constitute the results of these conversations, and General 
La Fayette himself has assured me of the exactness of the particu- 
lars therein detailed ; on which account I flatter myself they will be 
read with considerable interest and pleasure. 



132 MEMOIRS OP 

But the silence of the British Ministry is alto- 
gether inconceivable; particularly when we reflect 
that the inhabitants of Great Britain, so tenacious 
of their rights, and so proud of their limited liberty, 
formed high anticipations from the exertions of those 
representatives who spoke with sO much feeling of 
the melancholy situation of La Fayette, and who di- 
rected the thunders of their eloquence against this 
barefaced violation of the rights of nations, and inso- 
lent contempt of the laws of civihzed communities. 

On the 17th March, 1794, General Fitzpatrick, in 
a long and very able speech delivered in the British 
House of Commons, introduced to the notice of the 
house the melancholy situation of M. La Fayette, 
which, as he observed, had long excited the commis- 
eration of every friend to humanity and freedom. It 
was his opinion, that justice and policy equally requi- 
red the interference of England, who was in honour 
bound to make every effort to effect his deliverance.* 

* The following is an abstract of the debate on this subject, as it 
is reported in the New Annual Register for 1794, p. 161. It cannot 
but prove interesting to every friend of liberty, and admirer of La 
Fayette : 

General Fitzpatrick observed, that the disapprobation shown by 
the minister on a former night, when it had been mentioned iii the 
house that the king of Prussia refused to liberate Mens, de la Fay- 
ette and three other state prisoners, on the ground that they were 
the prisoners of the allied powers, was sufficient to exempt the 
character of the British nation from the odium of having any share 
in so execrable a transaction. He thought, however, thathumani- 



La FAYETTE. 133 

Many of the periodical publications of England 
spoke loudly in behalf of the prisoners, and express- 

t}', justice and policy required an interference from this country, in 
behalf of this unfortunate man. The General entered into a very 
able review of the whole conduct of Mons. de la Fayette — his firm 
attachment to the constitution of 1789, which had been approved 
by this country — his loyalty, which was proved by the most signal 
services to the royal family — and his refusal to join the republican 
party, though allured by every honour which could flatter his am- 
bition. On this party obtaining the ascendency, what was his con- 
duct? He resolved no longer to head the army, though he would 
not lead it against his country, but posted them so advantageously 
that General Clairfait was deterred from a'ttacking it. When com- 
missioners came to remove him from the command of the army, 
still faithful to the constitution and monarchy he had sworn to de- 
fend, he consigned them to the civil power. He soon afterwards 
passed the frontier, with a determination not to join the enemies 
of his country, and this was the cause of his dungeon and his suf- 
ferings. On neutral ground (the bishopric of Liege) he was taken 
prisoner, and transferred to a fortress belonging to the King of Prus- 
sia, where he was offered his liberty, on condition of joining the ar- 
my of the French princes. This he refused ; and then the officers 
of the King of Prussia claimed him as a prisoner of their master, 
not as a prisoner of war. La Fayette, and three other gentlemen, 
who had been members of the constituent Assembly, were now 
confined in filthy and unwholesome dungeons, without the liberty of 
breathing the fresh air more than one hour in a day, and debarred 
from all communication with each other. The General humanely 
urged the obligation which this country lay under to protect Mons. 
La Fayette, according to the proclamation of the 29th October, 
which promised protection to all who should throw off anarchy and 
declare for monarchy. If we refused to interfere, what dependence 
could the royalists place upon our promises? He urged that the 
conduct of Mons. La Fayette in America ought to be no bar to 
such an interposition, as we should have been happy to have saved 
by such a step, the life of Louis the Sixteenth, whose conduct ia the 

12 



134 MEMOIRS OF 

ed their unqualified astonishment that ministers had 
hitherto taken no steps to ohtain their release. There 

American war would never have been thought of as an obstacle. 
The General continued to urge the policy and humanity of this in- 
terference, and mentioned thie intention of the President of the Uni- 
ted States to make an application in favour of the unhappy prison- 
er. He concluded by moving for an address to his majesty, stating, 
that the detention of Mons. de la Fayette and his three friends in 
prison, by order of the King of Prussia, was injurious to his Majesty 
and the cause of his allies, and beseeching him to intercede for 
their deliverance in such a way as he in his wisdom shall judge 
proper. 

This motion was seconded by Colonel Tarleton, who gallantly 
expatiated upon the merits of a General who had once been his ad- 
versary. 

The Chancellor of the Exchequer denied that the four persons 
mentioned in the motion ever were the real friends of liberty, and 
thought their detention no infraction of the law of^iations. The 
question, he said, was, whether this country was implicated to in- 
terfere from motives of justice, honour and policy ? The interfe- 
rence required, would be setting ourselves up as guardians of the 
consciences of foreign states. Thiscountry had, he said, no par- 
ticipation in the matter, since Mons. La Fayettp had been taken 
prisoner before we were a party in the war. With respect to the 
gentlemen being entitled to the protection of this country on ac- 
count of the proclamation at Toulon, that declaration was address- 
ed only to such as were willing to come as friends and supporters of 
the genuine cause of liberty. This was not the case with M. La 
Fayette and his friends. He should, he said, oppose the motion, as 
equally improper and unnecessary. 

Mr. Fox thought it was difficult to say which was the most ex- 
traordinary, that this country should hesitate to interfere, or that 
the court of Berlin should exercise such abominable tyranny. On 
the pretext alleged for continuing the treatment received by M. de 
la Fayette, that he was the prisoner of the allied powers, not to in- 



LA FAYETTE. 135 

was heard throughout the nation a general expression 
of strong disapprobation ; but their sympathy was 

terfere was to be implicated in the odium, and to be handed down 
to posterity as accomplices in the diabolical cruelty'- of the Prussian 
cabinet. Mr. Fox stated that these unfortunate prisoners were 
confined in separate apartments, suftered only to breathe the fresh 
air one hour in a da}', confined in a subterraneous cavern, in 
which the only light came from a confined and dreary court, where 
the execution of malefactors was the only spectacle. In this dreary 
situation they had still one comfort, that of thinking themselves 
confined under the same roof; but this consolation was put an end 
to, by the removal of two of them to another prison ; and the re- 
quest of M. La Fayette to the King of Prussia, that M. Latour 
Maubourg might remain in the same prison with hira, was denied. 
As a proof that we might interfere in such a case, Mr. Fox cited 
the instance of an application made from this country to the court 
of France, in the case of Capt. Asgill. He did not, however, con- 
ceive that any authority was requisite on the i)resent occasion. He 
mentioned that M. La Fayette was neither treated as a j/iisoner of 
war nor as a prisoner of state. The Kiug of Prussia had repeat- 
edly declared him and his friends prisoners to the allied powers, 
and that he could not be released but by their consent; there was 
no way for those powers to clear themselves from such an imputa- 
tion, but by declaring their disavowal of the whole proceeding. 
National honour and policy required this. M. La Fayette, he con- 
tended, stood exactly in the same predicament with those to whom 
protection had been offered by this country. Had he staid in France, 
and come forward on the proclamation at Toulon, could we then 
have refused him protection? Mr. Fox mentioned, in pointed 
terms, the abominable treachery by which La Fayette had been 
captured. Of his company, consisting of forty persons, all but 
himself and three others, who had been members of the constituent 
Assembly, were released. No man could, he" said, point out that 
part of the law of nations, by which the subjects of one indepen- 
dent nation could be made prisoners of state by the sovereign of 
another, for offences committed, or supposed to be committed, in 



136 MEMOIRS OF 

exerted in vain. William Pitt, that cold, unfeeling 
calculator, was at the head of the administration, 
and La Fayette remained in chains.* It even ap- 
pears that the Prussian and Austrian governments 
augmented the sufferings of their unhappy prison- 

their own country ; it could only be done "by the law of tyrants, 
which condemns all principles, human and divine. 

Mr. Burke strongly opposed the motion, on the ground that no 
precedent existed of such an interference, and that it was improper, 
as we had forborne to interfere in preventing the numerous mas- 
sacres, &c. in France. Of these calamities, he considered M. La 
Fayette as the origin, and the author of all the miseries that had 
befallen France. He ridiculed all interference on this occasion^ 
and arraigned, in his usual unqualified terms, the whole conduct of 
the unhappy sufferers. 

On a division of the house, the ayes were 46, noes 153. 

* We here subjoin an extract from a curious and Jesuitical speech 
delivered by this Minister in the House of Commons, in Feb- 
ruary, 1790 : — 

"The present convulsion of France must, sooner or later, ternvi- 
nate in general harmony and regular order; and notwithstanding 
that the fortunate arrangements of euch a situation might make her 
more formidable, it might also render her less obnoxious as a neigh- 
bour. He hoped that he might rather wish, as an Englishman, for 
that, respecting the accomplishment of which, he felt himself in- 
terested as a man ; for the restoration of the tranquillity of France, 
though it appeared to him as distant. Whenever the situation of 
France should become restored, it would prove freedom rightly un- 
derstood ; freedom resulting from good order and good government ' 
and thus circumstanced, France would stand forward as one of the 
most brilliant powers in Europe ; she would enjoy that just kind of 
liberty which he venerated, and the invaluable existence whidr 
it was his dut}', as an Englishman, particularly to cherish ; nor 
vouldhe, under this predicament, regard with envious eyes the au- 



LA FAYETTE. 137 

ers, iu proportion fo the extent of the sympathy', and 
the loudness of the remonstrance, those sufterings 
excited. 

In Germany, too, there were few who wrote, who 
did not warmly embrace the cause of La Fayette. 
On his way from Wesel to Magdeburg, from there 
to Glatz, and to Neisse, the arrival of this hero of 
liberty was everywhere met with marks of admira- 
tion and love ; a conduct the more honourable to 
those who thus displayed their regard, as they in- 
curred the hazard of dying the martyrs of their com- 
passion and humanity. But no one among them 
gave such proofs of his afieciion as Henry Bollmann, 
a young German physician, born at Gottingen, in 
the ci-devant electorate of Hanover. This brave 
and generous young man, not content with offering 
the feeble and doubtful testimony of words and wri- 
tings, proved his courage and attachment to La 
Fayette, whom he had never seen, by the indubita* 
ble evidence of facts. 

Bollmann had just received his degree of Doctor 
of Medicine from the University of Gottingen, and 
possessed but a very limited fortune. Scarcely 24 
years of age, he was so struck with the noble con- 

proximation, in neighbouring states, of those sentiments wliich 
were the characteristic features of every British subject," &c. 

We will leave to the intelligent and impartial reader to decide 
iiow far the subsequent conduct of William Pitt corresponded with 
these magnanimous and high sounding declarations. 

12* 



138 MEMOIRS OF 

duct of La Fayette, in America and France, and so. 
exasperated at the barbarous treatment of this illus- 
trious man, that he resolved at last to attempt his 
rescue, at the hazard of his life. He sold his little 
stock of books, with every thing of value he pos- 
sessed, and in the dress of a German travelling stu- 
dent, with his knapsack on his back, walked from 
Gottingen to Haarburg, crossed the Elbe, and arri- 
ved at Hamburg in the beginning of 1794. He 
had furnished himself with several letters of intro- 
duction, and among these was one for Dr. 
Reimarus. There was something so pleasing and 
prepossessing in the physiognomy of Bollmann, his 
manners were so easy, engaging and polite, and in 
every thing he said there was so much animation 
and good sense, set off by an agreeable tinge of 
romantic sensibility, that he was soon introduced 
into the best society of this flourishing city, at that 
time enjoying, from its acknowledged neutrality, an 
almost incalculable commerce. 

Reimarus introduced his friend into the family of 
the wealthy Mr. Sieveking, his son-in-law. This 
merchant, besides being a liberal philanthropist, and 
a generous lover and patron of the arts, was a great 
admirer of General La Fayette, although, like Boll- 
mann, he had never seen him. Sieveking's house 
was at this time the rendezvous of strangers dis- 
tinguished not for their birth nor their richesj but 



LA FAYETTE. 139 

for their talents and personal merit. Bollmann 
soon gained the friendship and confidence of this 
exemplary man, and, knowing well his liberal senti- 
ments and high integrity, ventured to hint his bene- 
volent intentions. 

Sievekmg listened with eagerness, and asked a 
day's consideration before he made up his mind. Ha- 
ving at the end of this time concluded to assist him, 
he gave Bolhnann a letter of introduction to the hank- 
er, Hirsch, at Olmirtz, a purse of 300 Danish ducats. 
or 600 dollars, and a letter of credit for 10,000 flo- 
rins of Austria, to enable him to make the necessary 
preparations. He told him besides that Mr. Hirsch 
was his most intimate friend, and a person on w^hom 
he couy rely with unlimited confidence. 

^uch was the character of this generous and extra- 
ordinary man, who is noAv no longer living ; scarcely 
more lamented in liis death by his afflicted family, 
than by every other citizen of Hamburg, in w^hose in- 
terests he had ever evinced the most unwearied and 
patriotic zeal. 

Sieveking also took care to provide his young friend 
with a passport, as a subject of the King of Great 
Britain, and tliis proved, in the end, of valuable assis- 
tance. He advised him, at the same time, not to go 
farther than Dresden on foot, but to purchase there a 
handsome berlin, and to pass the Austrian frontiers 
in his ow^n carriage. In that case, he added, he would 
be treated like a gentleman ; whereas, by travelling 



140 MEMOIRS OF 

through Prussia or Austria on foot, he would lay him- 
self open to suspicion, and probably incur very disa- 
greeable consequences. 

As soon as Hirsch had perused the note which his 
friend and correspondent, Sieveking, had sent him, 
he immediately offered the doctor the 1 0,000 florins 
mentioned in the letter of credit. Of this BoUmann 
only took a part, and remained a fortnight at Olmutz 
without being able to accomplish any thing, as there 
was no possible way of approaching the prisoners. 
Hirschj who was a wealthy Jew, and a liberal-mind- 
ed man, (to the honour of his nation be it spoken,) 
much as he admired and venerated La Fayette, 
could not, in his circumstances, openly avow himself 
in favour of an enera}^ of government. He had a 
family and fortune ; and, independent of his bank, 
was largely engaged in commercial speculations. 
Of course, it could not be expected, that he would 
consent to risk the loss of ail his property, which, by 
openly protecting La Fayette, he must of necessity 
incur. He was not the less industrious, however, in 
his concealed exertions to assist him. He represent- 
ed to Bollmann, that his first step must be the se- 
lection of a faithful friend, on whom he could rely, 
as the depository of his secret, and the partner of his 
enterprise ; that, in the mean time, he would devise 
the best means of facilitating his purposes ; that, as 
Ihe task was as difiicultas it was dangerous, he must 



LA FAYETTE. 141 

be as patient as he was circumspect, but that he 
did believe, with a union of perseverance, prudence, 
and good fortune, he might assure himself of even- 
tual success. He advised him, for the present, to 
leave the place immediately ; in order to avoid the 
suspicions of the police, who had already made fre- 
quent inquiries with respect to his person, condition 
in life, and business at Olmutz. It seems, the doctor, 
on his arrival at the hotel of the Three Swans, had 
made to the landlord and one of the servants, seve- 
ral remarks respecting La Fayette, which were 
immediately represented to the police, and excited 
considerable suspicions. 

Mr. Hirsch was called upon, and interrogated as 
to what he knew of the stranger. To these inqui- 
ries, he very calmly replied, that Dr. Bollmann was 
a Hanoverian and a British subject, »that he was 
very well acquainted with his family, that he had 
been for some time past engaged in business with 
his father, who had now sent his son to Olmutz to 
settle his accounts; that before this could be done, 
he would be obliged to go to Vienna, and that, in 
short, the questions that Bollmann had asked, were 
nothing more than the natural result of a young man's 
curiosity. These words, pronounced with a tone of 
easy indifference, produced the intended effect ; and 
as Mr. Hirsch was generally esteemed and respected, 
and a friend of the president of police, the suspicions 



142 MEMOIRS OP 

of the Arguses were lulled, and Bollmann, by the 
advice of the banker, set off in two days for Vienna, 
where he expected to find, among the American 
travellers, a partner in his perilous enterprise. 

Taking with him a letter on Oxs Geymuller, a 
banker at Vienna, for the remainder of the 10,000 
florins, he soon reached the end of his journey, and 
took lodgings immediately in a hotel where he knew 
he would find a number of Americans. After study- 
ing their characters for several weeks, he thought 
he recognised the man he wanted in the person of 
Francis Huger, a son of Colonel Huger of Charles- 
town, the first American who had received the young 
Marquis at his first arrival in America. This young 
gentleman united many excellent qualities beyond 
his age, to a large share of activity and courage, 
together with the most unbounded admiration for 
the illustrious friend of his father. 

Dr. Bollmann had scarcely intimated his purpose 
when Huger seized his hand with the warmest en- 
thusiasm, and assured him he might command his 
services to the last of his blood and his breath. 
They immediately proceeded to arrange their plans. 
Bollmann procured the amount of his letter of credit, 
and Huger converted a large sum of money into 
gold, and made choice of a faithful domestic. They 
then purchased three good horses, and left Vienna 
for the ostensible purpose of seeking a change of 



LA FAYETTE. 143 

air, and of examining the neighbouring country. In 
this ^vay they travelled for upwards of five weeks, 
visiting the environs in various directions, and pre- 
tending that Huger was unwell, and was travelling 
with his physician Bollmann, to the Bohemian and 
Silesian springs. Under this pretext, they surveyed 
the frontiers which separate Moravia from what 
was formerly Austrian, and is now Prussian Silesia, 
and examined with particular carf the great road 
leading from Olmutz to Troppau. In all this time 
their movements created no suspicion, as Huger, 
before leaving Vienna, had taken the precaution 
to file his papers, and Bollmann had carefully re- 
newed his own b}^ means of the English ambassa- 
dor at Vienna. By this arrangement there seemed 
to be nothing extraordinary in the circumstance, 
that two young Englishmen (for Huger passed 
easily everywhere as an English nobleman) should 
travel on horseback through a country which they 
were desirous of closely examining, in order to find 
the place best calculated for the restoration of the 
young lord's health. The better to maintain this 
opinion, they had dressed their servant in the rich 
livery of an English jockey, and in this disguise 
they finally arrived at Olmutz in September, 1794. 

Bollmann, who was already known as a physician 
of Hanover, took lodgings with Huger and his ser- 
vant at his former hotel ; and gave out that he had 



144 MEMOIRS OF 

made a handsome sum of money in undertaking the 
cure of a young Englishman, who had been recom- 
mended to his care in a very particular manner. 
He said this with such an appearance of truth and 
sincerity, that nobody thought of suspecting him. 
Here he was informed by Mr. Hirsch, that he had 
the good fortune to meet with a very worthy man, 
who could )'entii;r them essential services, which he 
had in fact already undertaken to perform. This 
was no other than Kreutschke, the head surgeon of 
the garrison, a Bohemian by birth, and one who 
sincerely deplored the situation of the unfortunate 
La Fayette. Hirsch has frequently told me how 
he first ascertained the sentiments of Kreutschke. 
Kreutschke was the banker's physician and friend. A 
few days subsequent to the departure of Doctor 
Bollmann tor Vienna, the two friends being alone 
after dinner, Hirsch sent for a bottle of excellent old 
Tokay,* and proposed to empty it between them. 

* Tokay wine is the produce of a small district of the same name 
in Hungary. It Gomewhat resembles Malaga, but is neither so 
sweet nor so thick, and its flavour is remarkably fine. There is 
but 300 tons of it produced annually, of which 200 are reserved for 
the emperor of Austria, and the remaining 100 distributed among 
the noblemen of the neighbourhood, who sell it at exorbitant prices. 
It improves greatly by age, and is preserved in small bottles care- 
fully sealed. The price is from 3 to 4 Kremnitz ducats, or from 
6 to 8 dollars a bottle. It is even scarcer than the famous Neapo- 
litan wine, Lachrymse Christi. 



LA PAYETTE. 145 

This was an invitation not to be rejected by Kreutsclike 
who was a great lover of good wine, and particularly 
of Tokay. The conversation at first turned upon in- 
different subjects, until Hirsch found the Doctor 
begin to grow animated. Hethen inquired, with an 
air of indiflerence, respecting the health of La Fayette, 
who, he understood, had been very unwell, adding 
that it was to be hoped he would not recover, for 
he richly deserved to die. The words had scarcely 
passed his lips, when the Doctor, placing the glass 
which he held in his hand on the table, gazed at his 
friend for some minutes, with an appearance of 
astonishment ; then shaking his head, replied, with 
great gravity, " Hirsch, I should not have believed 
that of you ? Is this the way you slander a brave 
man, whose only crime has been, a wish to see his 
country free and happy f And must I, Kreutschke, a 
true-hearted Bohemian,* must I submit to such an 



* Those who are well acquainted with the history of this part Of 
Europe, need not be informed that the Bohemians have at all times 
shown a stubborn and independent opposition to the encroachments 
of tyranny. History shows us, that in every part of the old and the 
new world, the inhabitants of mountainous districts have ever ex- 
hibited a spirit of independence, more strongly marked than is found 
among the inhabitants of plains. Of this fact, the Bohemians in 
Austria, the Auvergnats in France, the Savoyards in Italy, the 
Highlanders in Scotland, the Tyrolese and Hartzois in Germany^ 
the Swiss, and the Araucanians in Chili, furnish abundant an(J 
convincing testimony. 

IS 



146 MEMOIRS OF 

indignity ? Hirsch ! Hirsch ! you have shamefully 
deceived me!" Hirsch, who as may be imagined, 
was delighted at this sally, resolved to sound him 
further- " But of what service," said he, " are all 
these fine words, when no one can, and no one will 
do any thing for him ! Whether La Fayette be as 
criminal, or not, as they represent him to be, is of 
very little consequence 5 for he must die soon, if he 
remains in prison !" At thisKreutschke started up in 
great agitation, and strode up and down the room 
several times witl>out speaking. 

After some time he sat down again, and looking 
Mr. Hirsch steadfastly in the face, drew his chair 
closer, and said, in a low tone of voice, after throw- 
ing his eyes cautiously around him, " Hirsch ! I have 
known you and loved you these twenty years, and 
I believe you are a man of honour. I have, as you . 
very well know, a wife and children, and thank God, 
an. honourable situation, which my gracious sove- 
reign has chosen to confide to my charge. You 
may ruin me, if you choose, but I have something 
heavy at my heart, and 1 can keep it there no longer. 
Our gracious Emperor (or as he expressed himself 
in the Austrian patois, unser gnaadiger Koser) 
does wrong to imprison these gentlemen, for they 
have done nothing against him, nor against the King 
of Prussia." After a great deal of precaution, on 
the part of Hirsch, who was perfectly acquainted 
with this excellent Bohemian, but was always on 



LA FAYETTE. 147 

his guard against surprises,* he finally told 
Kreutschke, that there were several persons greatly 
interested in the fate of General La Fayette, who 
had empowered him to offer a thousand fiorins to 
any man who would engage to transmit, from time 
to time, to the General, such information as he might 
require. Kreutschke promised his assistance, and 
separated. 

A few days after, the surgeon came to Hirsch, to 
tell him, there had occurred to him a difficulty, 
which was not how to communicate information to 
the prisoner, but how to write it first, for neither 
he nor Hirsch could write or speak a word of 
French or English, and the General, unfortmiately, 
could not read German. After looking awhile at 
Hirsch, who stood greatly embarrassed and perplex- 
ed, the Doctor struck him on the shoulder, and told 
him, with an appearance of great satisfaction, that 
he had a friend, who could write French very well, 
and who had promised to be their secretary. Hirsch 
was at first very much alarmed, to find that a third 



* This distrust on the part of Mr. Hirsch will create no surprise, 
when we inform our readers, that there existed in Austria, under 
the government of Thugut and Saurau, (see chap, xii.) a police so 
severe, that brother no longer confided in brother, and that there 
was, besides this, an opposition police. The reader will see farther, 
in the particulars of the history of M. Huber, the dreadful effects 
of the reign of terror, under these two Ministers. 



148 MEMOIRS OP 

person had been admitted into the secret, but his 
apprehensions were speedily quieted, when he found 
that Passy was the man. As M. Passy has render- 
ed the most signal services to the three prisoners, 
and to their families, and their friends, particularly 
to Madame de la Fayette and her two daughters, 
the readex- will, I hope, not think it amiss, if 1 make 
him acquainted with this excellent man, who would 
never consent to receive the smallest recompense for 
his services ; and whose name we shall have fre- 
quently occasion to mention in the course of this 
history. I ought first to mention, that the real 
name of this gentleman, which was known only to 
the few who were in the secret, was Warsler, and 
not Passy, which was a name assumed to avoid dis- 
covery ; as General La Fayette's was Gilbert, mine 
Feldman, and Colonel Latour Maubourg's Mann. 
When I saw Professor Passy, for the first time, he 
appeared to me to be a man of about thirty-two 
years of age, with an open, intelligent countenance, 
fine complexion, and large black animated and ex- 
pressive eyes. He dressed in the extreme of the 
mode; silk stockings, silk small-clothes, embroidered 
waistcoat, black coat, and hair elegantly curled and 
powdered. The Professor even went so far as to 
perfu^iije himself; and I muss: acknowledge this at- 
tire, which resembled, in all respects, that of the 
most exquisite petit-maitre of Paris, at first gave 



LA FAYETTE. 149 

tne a very unfavourable opinion of the wearer, not- 
withstanding the strong assurances which Madame 
de la Fayette had given me of his worth, in one of 
the notes which, during ray occasional visits to 
Olmutz, I frequently received from her prison. But, 
as soon as he offered me his hand, with his peculiar- 
ly frank and prepossessing air ; as soon as he spoke, 
with his interesting enthusiasm, of the General, and 
particularly of the General's wife, in whose praises 
his eloquence seemed almost inexhaustible, I could 
no longer withhold my admiration of his generous 
heart and exalted sentiments. He showed me, 
among other things, a beautiful purse, which Ma- 
dame de la Fayette and her daughters had embroi- 
dered with the General's cipher and their own. He 
told me, as he drew it carefully wrapped up from a 
hiding-place under his bed, that this was his talis- 
man, his only, his abundant recompense for all the 
sleepless nights he had passed, in the dreadful ap- 
prehension of discovery ; and that he asked for 
nothing more on earth, than before he died, to throw 
himself at Madame de la Fayette's feet, to assure 
her of the warmth, and purity, and strength, of his 
unalterable affection. I could not help mentioning 
this conversation to Mr. and Madame de la Fayette, 
who afterwards, at Wettmoldt, and at Paris, called 
it frequently to my recollection, lamenting, at the 
same time, that they received no intelligence of their 



150 MEMOIRS OF 

excellent friend. He had promised to join us with 
all possible speed. The reader will soon be in- 
formed of the cause of his delay. 

Passy, for some time before the arrival of Boll" 
mann and Huger, during their stay at Olmutz, and 
'Up to the moment of La Fayette's deliverance, had 
been the guide and adviser of all who were concern- 
ed in the fate of the prisoners. He was a native of 
Trieste, appointed professor of philosophy at the 
college of Olmutz, an unmarried man, and in the 
receipt of a respectable salary from the Austrian 
government. In easy circumstances, and with an 
linspotted reputation, he lived in great retirement, 
absorbed in literary pursuits, and particularly fond 
of Italian poetry. 

The head surgeon was a very intimate friend oi 
'Passy's, and found no difficulty in gaining him 
over. Kreutschke had already received a part of 
the thousand florins ; but Passy absolutely refused to 
listen to the name of compensation. The question 
fiext arose, how they should communicate to the 
General the intentions of Bollmann ; for Captain 
Brauers, who was the superintendent of the prisons, 
was a perfect Au^strian, deaf to all entreaties, of a 
coarse, harsh, and unfeeling temper; and so far 
^rom lending his assistance, would, no doubt, in- 
stantly acquaint the police of their designs. This 
difficulty was removed by the address and ability 



LA FAYETTE. 151 

ofPassy, who had influence enough to obtain the 
appointment of the Count de Maquelico, in place of 
the Austrian Captain, shortly after Madame de la 
Fayette's arrival at 01m utz. 

Kreutschke was a good man enough, but with nei- 
ther education nor talents. He was unable, himself, 
to devise a plan to convey to the General the note 
they had written, and agreed to follow exactly the 
Professor's advice. The head surgeon, having oc- 
casion to see General Count d'Arco, of whom I shall 
hereafter more particularly speak, asked permission 
to make a medical visit to the prisoners, to ascertain 
the state of their health ; a thing which, in the pri- 
sons of Olmutz, was done only once in three months! 
The Governor consented, and appointed the next 
morning at nine; being the hour when the superin- 
tendent was accustomed to make his ordinary visit. 
The Doctor went immediately to communicate the 
good news to Passy and Hirsch ; and the three 
friends had a secret interview, in a retired room of 
Mr. Hirsch's spacious house, precisely at midnight. 
It was here agreed, to advise La Fayette to feign 
indisposition, and whenever the superintendent or 
jailer entered his prison, to request that a medical 
man should be sent for. Passy accordingly wrote 
a note, in which he conveyed this advice, along with 
the information of the arrival of several friends, but 
without mentioning their names. The following 



152 MEMOIRS OF 

morning, the Doctor, in company with the super- 
intendent, made the nine o'clock visit, after the 
ceremonies and precautions! I have already descri- 
bed. With his note carefully folded and properly 
prepared in his hand, he approached La Fayette, 
and began to feel his pulse ; then waiting for a con- 
venient opportunity, he slipped the note into the Ge- 
neral's hand, warning him by signs, not to appear 
to be conscious of what he was doing. After hold- 
ing his arm for a considerable time, he turned to 
the superintendent and the officer of the guards, 
and told them, gravely, that the patient seemed very 
much agitated, and would probably require to be 
bled. As soon as La Fayette felt the note in his 
hands, he was seized, as he has frequently told me, 
with a violent trembling, changed colour repeatedly, 
and shut his hand with a convulsive grasp. These 
appearances strongly confirmed the opinion of the 
surgeon ; the two officers reported to the Governor, 
that the General was certainly very unwell ; and the 
stratagem succeeded beyond their most sanguine 
expectations. 

La Fayette, as may well be imagined, eagerly de- 
voured the contents of the note, the first he had re- 
ceived since his arrival at Olmutz. On the back of 
it, he wrote with his blood, an answer to Passy, and 
the next day conveyed it, in the manner it was re- 
ceived, into the hands of the Doctor. 



LA FAYETTE. ' 153 

In order to get rid of the troublesome and dan- 
gerous presence of the superintendent, he alleged 
that the usual hour of visiting the prisoners was 
very inconvenient for his hospital patients ; and at 
lastj after much solicitation, obtained permission to 
go alone, and at any hour of the day. In this way, 
he gradually furnished the General with pen, ink and 
paper ; and contrived to supply him, from time to 
time, with wine, chocolate, and various other arti- 
cles of which his patient stood greatly in need. For 
as all the officers of the guard were greatly attached 
to their surgeon, who was really a very kind, good- 
hearted, and accommodating man, they frequently 
left him alone with the prisoner, and seldom trou- 
bled him with unpleasant inquiries. Availing him- 
self of this relaxation of the prison regulations, he 
brought him, every now and then, a bottle of wine, 
which he told the guard was medicine for the pa- 
tient, taking care at the same time to affix to each 
bottle a large label, as if to prescribe the manner of 
taking it. 

We flatter ourselves that our readers will not com- 
plain of the minuteness of these details, as well on 
account of their intrinsic interest, as because they 
serve to show the artifices which it was necessary to 
employ, to blind the eyes of so many observers ; and 
because they prove, that even under the despotic 
government of Austria, there were found many 



154 MEMOIRS OP 

warm and zealous friends of the unhappy victims of 
her arbitrary tyranny. 

The plans of Hirsch, Passy, and Kreutschke were 
very much favoured by the circumstance, that Count 
d'Arco, the Governor of Olmutz, entertainefi in 
secret, friendly feelings towards the unfortunate pri- 
soners ; and, as we shall show farther on, was always 
delighted to obtain an opportunity to diminish their 
sufferings, without daring, however, to incur the 
displeasure of the Austrian cabinet. Thugut and 
Saurau, who, it was generally believed, were sold to 
the Court of St. James, had issued the strictest or- 
ders with respect to the treatment of the prisoners ; 
and Hirsch has often told me, that the Governor, who 
w^as his intimate friend, had frequently declared, 
that their situation was really deplorable, and that 
if he were not apprehensive of the resentment of his 
gracious sovereign, he would do much more than he 
did, to alleviate their melancholy lot. 

All the secret instructions^ to the Governor with 
regard to the prisoners, came to him through the 
Count de Saurau, Minister of Police, who was under 
the direction of Baron Thugut his friend and protect- 

* These instructions were regularly headed, " And his Majesty, 
our very gracious Emperor and King, commands you," &c. &c. 
His Majesty, however, on this occasion, was very seldom consult- 
ed, and probably knew less of these orders than any of his 
subjects. 



LA FAYETTE. 155 

or ; so that all the movements of Maquelico were 
subjected to the most rigid surveillance. 

In consequence of this friendly disposition on the 
part of the Governor, he was persuaded, after long 
solicitations, to allow General La Fayette to ride in 
an open carriage beyond the gates of the town. But 
as the verbal representations of his surgeon were not 
enough to induce him to assume this serious responsibil- 
ity, he required Kreutschke to tile a written document, 
in which should be entered his reasons for prescribing 
change of air to the prisoner, with an enumeration 
of the circumstances that might call for this occasion- 
al indulgence ; and the intendcnt was obliged to con- 
tinn, by a written certificate, the representations of 
the surgeon. These papers were sent to Vienna, 
and were followed by a permission to General La 
Fayette, to ride out for change of air as occasion 
required ; accompanied by a positive order from the 
Minister, that the Governor should always attend him 
in person, with an armed guard, to prevent the escape 
of the prisoner. 

General La Fayette had now, for a fortnight, en_ 
joyed the privilege of riding out three or four times 
a week, between five and six o'clock. He has often 
told me, that notwithstanding his unpleasant situation, 
he could never help smiling at the pantomimic sym- 
pathies of this Austrian Governor, a man of really 
good feelings, but very old, and very deaf, and very 
fat. Although quite uneducated, speaking neither 



156 MEMOIRS OF LA PAYETTE. 

French nor English, and indeed no other language 
than the Austrian patois^ he made every effort, by 
signs, to convince the General of the interest he felt 
in his misfortunes. As the manners of La Fayette 
are very prepossessing, he soon made his way into 
the good graces of the Governor, who would occasion- 
ally leave the carriage with him, take his arm, and 
try to console him. But in all cases the guard was 
on the watch behind them. 



CHAPTER XL 



Arrival of Bollmann and Huger at Olmutz. Attempt to 
effect the escape of General La Fayette. Its consequen- 
ces, and other particulars, not hitherto known. 



Things were in this state, when Bollmann and 
Huger arrived at Olmutz, on the 15th October, 1794. 
By means of the correspondence established between 
General La Fayette and Professor Passy, in the 
manner detailed in the preceding chapter, the pri- 
soners were enabled to obtain intelligence of their 
families and friends. The head surgeon effected a 
similar correspondence with de Maabourg and Puzy, 
between whom and Passy, communications passed 
and repassed, which tended very much to dissipate 
the despondency and gloom of imprisonment. Ball- 
man and Huger found no difficulty in apprising La 
Fayette of the plan by which they proposed to effect 
his escape. All the preparatory arrangements were 
discussed and agreed upon, and the 27th October 
was the day appointed for the execution of their pro- 
jected enterprise. As the General had, as yet, seen 

14 



158 MEMOIRS OF 

neither Huger nor Bollmann, and as neither of them 
had seen him, it was agreed that the two young men 
should ride out on horseback together, beyond the 
gates of the town, a thing which they had frequent- 
ly done before, without being in the least suspected ; 
and that one of them should take a white handker- 
chief out of his pocket as soon as they fell in with 
the carriage, which they would easily recognise by 
the guard which was always behind it. 

The young men had taken the precaution to send 
their servant to Troppau to request a friend, on 
whom they placed the greatest reliance, to keep a 
post chaise with two strong horses in readiness, at a 
place three miles distant from the Moravian frontier, 
this side of the Prussian territory. Their object was 
to abandon their horses on reaching this spot, to 
throw themselves into the chaise, pass Troppau, and 
in this way reach Saxony, where they would have 
been in perfect safety. 

Accordingly, on the day appointed, Bollmann and 
Huger mounted their horses at four in the afternoon, 
as if to take their accustomed ride ; but in spite of 
all their precaution, they committed the great over- 
sight of not bringing a third horse with them. I 
have been since told, that this was done in order to 
avoid suspicion; and if we put ourselves a moment 
in their place, we must acknowledge that this appre- 
hension was very natural and very reasonable. I 



LA FAYETTE. 159 

am very far from feeling any disposition to censure 
their arrangements; and merely make this remark, 
in order to show that in all critical and decisive mo- 
ments, success is frequently defeated by a superfluity 
of caution. 

Doctor Bollmann had, on the preceding evening, 
written to the General, advising him to endeavour 
to walk as far as he could beyond his usual limits; 
and when the Governor should propose to return to 
the carriage, to ask permission, under some pretext, 
to retire to a distance for an instant. He added, 
that he would remain on his more vigorous horse, 
while Huger, who was more active, would leave his, 
and assist the General to mount behind Bollmann. 
That Huger would then have time to mount his own, 
and to follow his friends ; and that, finally, the Gene- 
ral might depend on their perfect knowledge of the 
roads. 

The fortress of Olmutz is situated about thirty 
miles from the frontiers of Silesia, in the centre of a 
plain, which extends itself in all directions to the 
distance of three miles. On one side is a stream of 
water, on the other a strip of marshy ground; on 
the remaining two a considerable extent of countr}^ 
covered with stones, and several hills skirted with 
underwood and brush ; so that from the ramparts, 
it is easy to see every thing that occurs in any of 
the roadSj within three miles of the place. The 



160 MEMOIRS OF 

bighway that leads from Olmutz to Troppau, is 
wide and well made, until you reach a small rising 
ground, about eleven miles distance from Olmutz. 
There the road forks, and the highway becomes so 
narrow, that it would generally be mistaken for a 
by-road. The government had here erected a point- 
er or sign post, with two ai:ms ; the left one directing 
to Braunseiffen, and the right to Troppau. The 
first of these roads led into the interior of Moravia, 
and of course continued within the Austrian terri- 
tory; the second would have carried them into 
Silesia, which was Prussian territory, where they 
would have been perfectly safe. 

Doctor Bollmann, as we have already mentioned, 
had, on the preceding day, reconnoitered all the 
neighbouring country ; and, in the evening, had 
written to the General, to make an attempt to ex* 
tend his walk about an English mile beyond its 
usual length ; that there he would find, on his 
right, a rising ground, covered with a wood, which 
would serve to screen them from the observation of 
the sentinels ; and that this was the place selected, 
as best calculated to secure his escape. The Ge- 
neral wrote an answer, in which he detailed what he 
would do, in order to get rid of the Governor, who 
had now contracted for him so strong a friendshipt 
that whenever they left the carriage to walk^ he aU 
ways held him very closely by the arm.* 

'■'^ The very words of La Fayette. 



LA FAYETTE. 161 

As the carriage was slow in coming, the two 
young men fatigued their horses very much, in 
waiting for the Genlral. At last, about half past 
five o'clock, the carriage came in sight, with two 
men in it, one of whom wore a three-cornered hat, with 
an Austrian uniform, and without epaulettes; while 
on the left sat the other, dressed in a blue foat. and 
round hat. Bollmann and Huger, as soon as they 
saw the guard behind the carriage, knew that these 
were La Fayette and the Governor, They imm- 
dlately turned the heads of their horses toward the 
country, and trotted slowly forward, so that the 
carriage very soon overtook them. As it passed, 
the Doctor drew out his white pocket handkerchief, 
and La Fayette immediately did the same ; that 
being the signal by which it had been agreed they 
were to recognise each other. The two young men 
then allowed the carriage to keep a short distance 
ahead, until it finally stopped, when the General 
and Governor got out, and began to take their usual 
walk ; so that they still kept in front of Bollmann 
and Huger. As soon as La Fayette had reached 
the wood, which Bollmann had described on the right 
hand side of the road, he found a pretence to with- 
draw some distance from the Governor. Boll- 
mann and Huger then pushed their horses forward 
towards La Fayette, and Huger sprang from his horse 
to assist the General to mount behind Bollmann. 

14* 



162 MEMOIRS 01" 

But the old Governor, notwithstanding his size 
and his stiffness, got up in time to catch La Fayette 
by the arm ; and while he was struggling to get loose, 
the guard seized him behind. At this moment, Hu- 
ger, who was active and strong, caught the guard 
by his hair, which was gathered behind into a long 
cue, an(i threw him with force on the ground, telling 
La Fayette to make his escape with all possible 
speed, and adding that he could easily manage the 
two Austrians, who were each quite old and infirm. 
The sudden fall of the guard, however, started Hu- 
ger's horse, the bridle of which he held round his 
arm, whilst he was assisting the general. The leather 
gave way, and the horse galloped off and plunged 
into the neighbouring fields. Bollmann, almost in 
despair at this unpleasant accident, would have dis- 
mounted from his horse; but Huger told him, in 
English, to make his escape without an instant's de- 
lay, with La Fayette, who was at that moment strug- 
gling with the guard. The general was above him, 
and succeeded in keeping him down, but the guard 
held him so strongly by the arm, that all he could 
do was to seize him by the throat. On doing this, 
the guard cried loudly for help, and La Fayette, to 
stifle his cries, endeavoured to thrust his handker- 
chief into his mouth. Tn this he partly succeeded, 
but the soldier, letting go of the General's arm, who 
was all this while kneeling upon him, bit his two 



LA FAYETTE. 163 

lingers so severely, that on tearing them away from 
his teethj the skin and flesh remained in the mouth 
of the guard. In this condition, covered with blood 
from the wound, which bled profusely, he had bare- 
ly time to mount behind BoUmann, who was now 
as urgent as Huger for their immediate departure. 
For while La Fayette was struggling with the guard, 
and Huger was engaged with the Governor, who had 
drawn his sword to defend himself, Bollmann, look- 
ing around, saw at a distance, a peasant, who was 
driving a plough drawn by two horses. He soon 
perceived that this peasant, observing the disturb- 
ance, had unharnessed one of his horses, and was 
coming towards them. He immediately gave the 
alarm to the General, who, as he has since told me, 
never in his life felt as strong as he did at that mo- 
ment. Snatching, as I have mentioned, his fingers 
from the mouth of the guard, he rushed to Huger's 
assistance ; but both he and Bollmann told him that 
a moment's delay would infallibly ruin them all; 
and entreated him instantly to mount behind Boll- 
mann, who held out his hand to assist him to rise. 
Huger at the same time conjured him not to delay, 
adding, that he was active, and an excellent runner, 
and would easily gain the neighbouring hills, after 
which he would be able, by favour of the night, to 
join them at the place appointed. Thus urged on 
both sides, La Fayette was compelled to yield to 



164 MEMOIRS OF 

their entreaties, and mounting behind BoUmann* 
sat off at full speed. They had not gone three miles, 
before they heard the three reports from the alarm- 
gun of the fortress. 

In the mean time, Huger, who had easily disarmed 
the governor, as soon as he saw his friends in safety, 
let go his hold, and run into the thicket. The 
guard had been so badly handled, that he was 
utterly unable to rise without the governor's help. 
They then got into the carriage, and returned to town 
without their prisoners, sore with their bruises, and 
in no very amiable humour. The governor ordered 
the alarm-gun to be immediately fired 5 and as there 
was no cavalry in the place, he ordered all the officers 
to mount their horses and pursue the fugitives. At 
the same time he sent a great number of patroles in 
every direction along the roads, on the frontiers and 
through the adjoining country. One of these found 
and brought back Huger's horse, which had tranquil- 
ly resumed the road to town ; but several hours 
elapsed, before the governor, who was very uAieasy 
at what had happened, received any news of the 
others. Huger, who had had a good hour's start, 
would have been able to effect his escape without any 
difficulty ; but the peasant of whom we have made 
mention above, had mounted one of his plough- 
horses, and pursued him closely ; and although he 
could not overtake him in consequence of the rugged- 
ness of the ground; he still contrived to keep him in 



LA FAYETTE 165 

sight. On hearing the alarm-gun, however, he sus- 
pected that Huger was the ohject of pursuit, and 
springing from his horse, he followed him with all 
possible speed. The young American, exhausted by 
his previous struggles, disappointment and chagrin, 
saw with terror, that the peasant was fresh, vigorous 
and swift of foot, and that he was gaining sensibly 
on him. As a last resource, he turned round, as 
soon as the man came up, and offered him his purse,, 
which contained a large sum of money ; but the other 
refused it with an oath, and seized him roughly 
by the collar. Huger attempted to resist, but his 
strength was now so much exhausted that he was soon 
overpowered. His hands were then tied, and he was 
handed over to one of the patroles, who inhumanly 
beat him with the breech of his musket, as he drove 
him into town. He arrived about eleven at Olmutz, 
and was instantly put into irons, and thrown into a 
dungeon. 

Dr. Bollmann and the General, in the mean time, 
alarmed at the report of the gun, were anxiously 
urging on their almost exhausted horse. A great 
deal of rain had fallen in the forenoon, so that the 
animal slipped continually, and at last stumbled and 
fell, and threw his riders off his back. They rose 
again without injury, but finding the horse unable to 
proceed without a little repose, they allowed him to 
rest awhile ; then mounting again, they pushed hasti- 
ly forward. To add to their misfortunes, the dark- 



166 MEMOIRS OF 

ness, in consequence of a dense and drizzling rain, 
had come on sooner than usual, so that they could 
no longer distinguish one object from another. The 
dread of pursuit, the fear that the horse would stum- 
ble and throw them at every step, the anxiety they 
felt for the unknown fate of their young and generous 
friend, all conspired to make such an impression on 
the mind of Bollmann, who held the reins, that when 
they arrived at the fork of the road, he had entirely 
forgotten which led to Braunseiffen, and which to 
Troppau. Stopping his horse to reflect which was 
the right road, he found the finger-post without difii- 
culty, but in consequence of the extreme darkness, 
could not distinguish a letter upon it. 

They bad now gone eleven miles on their way, 
and there remained but fifteen before they would 
reach the postchaise near Troppau, where they 
would have been safe. But this unexpected di- 
lemma perplexed them in the extreme. General La 
Fayette finally proposed to Bollmann, speaking in a 
low tone of voice, as they had constantly done when 
they spoke at all, that perhaps it would be best to 
throw the reins on the horse's neck, and allow him 
to choose the road himself.* Bollmann followed 
this advice ; but the horse, who was extremely fa- 

* This is an established practice in the cavalry. It would seem, 
that this noble animal has more memory, as well as more instinct? 
than man ; and there are few who do not know how often the rider 
•s saved by the sagacity of the horse. 



LA FAYETTE. 167 

tigued, no sooner found himself at liberty, than in- 
stead of taking either of the roads, he turned his 
head towards town. This circumstance completed 
the embarrassment of Bollmann, who resumed the 
reins, whipped the horse, and compelled him to take 
the road to the left ; for, as we have already said, 
the highway at this place becomes so narrow that 
Bollmann could not tell which was the principal, or 
which was the cross road, the darkness increasing 
at every step. After having travelled in this way 
three miles further, the horse stumbled again , and 
the two riders narrowly escaped with their lives. 
La Fayette received a violent contusion in the arm, 
having fallen on a sharp stone, and believed for a 
moment that his arm was broken, the blood at the 
same time flowing profusely. While they were 
engaged in raising themselves and their horse from 
the ground, Bollmann acknowledged to the Gene- 
ral, that he greatly feared he had mistaken the road, 
for it seemed much too uneven and rough for the 
highway to Troppau. They finally concluded to 
return to the fork, and to follow the other road ; but 
they had scarcely come to this determination, when 
they saw, not far distant, a patrolling party of pea- 
sants, who hailed them with the usual cry of, who 
goes there? They made no reply, but hastened 
to mount their horse, when six armed peasants, with 
their leader at their head, surrounded them, and 



168 MEMOIRS OF 

compelled them to go on, about two hundred ^steps 
further, to a large barn on the road to Braunseifen^ 
where they had taken up their quarters. 

I ought, however, first to enter into some details, 
necessary to enable the reader to understand, by 
what means, and for what purpose, these peasants 
had placed themselves there. 

In Austria, whenever a soldier or prisoner es- 
capes, the town-gates are immediately closed, 
three alarm-guns are fired, and all the cavalry 
is sent out in pursuit of the fugitives. As soon 
as the report of the cannon is heard, the mayor, 
the judges, and the municipal officers, are obliged 
to sound the alarm-hell, which can be heard from 
one village to another, and which by this means 
spreads the alarm to the distance of fifty or sixty 
miles in a very few minutes. The inhabitants, who 
are all organized into battalions, regiments, and 
companies, (under the denomination of the Land- 
sturm,) are compelled under rigid penalties to as- 
semble at a place appointed, where they receive 
arms and instructions from the civil authorities. 
For every prisoner or deserter overtaken and 
brought back, the government gives them a stipula- 
ted compensation, in order to increase their emu- 
lation, activity, and vigilance. In consequence of 
this law, the mayor of Braunseifen, Mr. Joseph 
Richter, had ordered the alarm-bell to be sounded. 



LA FAYETTE. 1C9 

had assembled the villagers, and had established in 
this barn, under the command of a sub-officer, a guard 
of twelve men, who had thus unfortunately perceived 
and arrested La Fayette and his companion. 

The chief of this guard was a worthy farmer, who 
treated the prisoners with much humanity, asked 
them kindly to dismount, and inquired of them who 
they were. Bollmann replied in German, that they 
were English travellers who had lost their way ; but 
the farmer, surprised to see them covered* with blood 
and mire, was dissatisfied, and asked tor further ex- 
planations. The Doctor then declared, that his fel- 
low traveller had received a severe wound from the 
fall of their horse; and showed him the General's 
hand, which was bound up in a handkerchief. In- 
quiry was next made for their passports ; on which 
Bollmann produced his, and said that his compai> 
ion's horse, after throwing his rider, had made his 
escape, carrying off the portmanteau that contained 
his friend's passport. He added, that, observing the 
light in the barn, they had approached with the ex- 
pectation of finding a guide ; then takmg some gold 
from his pocket, he promised to reward liberally who- 
ever would engage to procure a guide and a good 
horse. On hearing tliis, the chiefofthe guard shook his 
head and replied, that although he had no doubt they 
were gentlemen, still, he was compelled by his duty 
to detain them until he had received instructions from 

15 



170 MEMOIRS OF 

the mayor, Mr. Richter, to whom he accordingly 
despatched one of his guards, to apprise him of the 
arrival and detention of these two travellers. 

In the mean time, Dr. Bollmann's passport was 
handed round to all who were present ; and as it 
was written in German, two of the peasants who 
could read, or at least spell, assured the chief of the 
guard that it was perfectly correct, and that the visa of 
Vienna and Olmutz, were in all* respects exact. 
Bollmann then again requested the farmer, to pro- 
vide them a good guide and another horse, and 
taking out a purse well tilled with ducats, offered 
him a rew^ard much larger than hefore. But the farmer 
steadily refused to receive his money or comply with 
his request ; always adding, that he had not the small- 
est suspicion of either of the gentlemen; but that 
after hearing the cannon and alarm-bell, he could not 
allow them to proceed, on any consideration what- 
ever, without the express orders of the proper au- 
thority. 

A large fire was now prepared, in order to dry 
their clothes ; bread, butter, beer, and other pro- 
visions, were brought out and offered to the travellers, 
and a straw bed was also provided. Neither Boll- 
mann nor the General, however, could touch a mor- 
sel, but, driven to despair, by this strange combination 
of unfortunate accidents, they threv^ themselves 
down upon the straw, overcome with fatigue, disap- 
pointment and alarm. 



LA FAYETTE. 171 

The doors of the barn were then closed ; one sen- 
tinel placed without, and another within. The horse 
was also brought in and taken charge of by one of the 
guard; while the others were engaged in watching 
every motion of the strangers, or in whispering to 
each other their various conjectures. In circum- 
stances like these, all attempts to convey by descrip- 
tion an adequate idea of the painful situation and 
reflections of the sulferers must prove entirely un- 
availing. Their sensations must be left to the read- 
er's imagination to conceive* 

In this condition, they endured three hours of al- 
most intolerable suspense, when at last the orders of 
the mayor arrived, directing the strangers to be 
brought before him immediately, at BraunseifTen. 
M. Richter was a wealthy manufacturer of cloth, a 
man of kind and generous feelings, and of the most 
unbending integrity ; in short, one of those plain, 
honest, open-hearted men, we so often meet with in 
Germany. 

As I have been at this gentleman's house, at three 
different times, and remained with him once for 
four days, partly invited by his liberal hospitality, 
and partly for the purpose of obtaining news from 
Vienna ; I was enabled to procure a very detailed 
and exact account of all that happened to La 
Fayette and Bollmann, for some time before and 
after their arrest. 

" As soon as I saw them," (this was his account,) 



172 MEMOIRS OF 

" I was sure tliey were gentlemen ; for I was struck 
with their xippearance, their dress, and their man- 
ners. But when I observed that their clothes were 
covered with mire, and stained with blood, I hardly 
knew what to think. I immediately requested all 
persons present to retire, except my colleague, the 
curate, and the secretary of the municipality; curi- 
ous to know who they were, and how they came in 
such a strange predicament. Bollmann then pre- 
senting me his passport, told me, that he was a Ha- 
noverian, and of course a subject of his Britannic 
Majesty, the friend and ally of Austria, and added, 
that his arrest had been very illegal. All this was 
said with so much ease and propriety, that I was 
extremely perplexed, and hardly knew what course 
was best to adopt, when my associate and the curate, 
the gentleman now before you,* advised me not to 
act with too much precipitation, but to wait for fur- 
ther intelligence from Olmutz. As soon as the two 
strangers saw us conversing and consulting toge- 
ther, in a low tone of voice, they began immediately 
to do the same. At length the Docior rose from 
his chair, and begged me to go with him into ano- 
ther room, as he wished to speak with me alone. 
This request, made with great abruptness, and with 

^ We were all three seated at table after dinner, over a bottle 
of excellent old Johannisbergher, a well known Rhenish wine of 
that name. 



LA FAYETTE. 17^ 

marks of extreme agitation, induced me at first to 
suspect, that he harboured some sinister design ; 
but immediately repelling this suspicion, I invited 
him to walk into that small apartment that you see 
there. We had scarcely entered and closed the 
door, when, with tears in his eyes, he asked me, 
' whether I knew who was his companion. It is,' 
said he, 'the great, the good La Fayette, whom 
I have attempted to deliver from prison. Oh ! save 
him ! I beg, I conjure you! and I'll give you all 
the gold I have about me, and bills of exchange for 
20,000 florins, and for thirty thousand more, if you 
want it. And if that's not enough, the General will 
promise you a hundred thousand florins at least. 
Oh ! save him ! for God's sake, save him ! It was 
I who brought him to this horrible condition — pun- 
ish me, and let me be your prisoner, and let him 
escape !' He then threw himself upon the ground 
before me, embraced my knees, and sobbed, and 
wept, and prayed to me, as if I had indeed been a 
saint or a saviour. 

"At the name of La Fayette, I felt such emotions as it 
would be utterly vain to attempt to describe. Though 
I had never seen him for a moment, he had ever been 
the object of my profoundest esteem and veneration. 
In a state of great and painful perplexity, and scarcely- 
conscious of what I was doing, I raised the young mam 

from the ground, and asked him reproachfully, why,. 

15* 



174 MEMOIRS OF 

as soon as my people had arrested him, he had not 
instantly written me a note undisguisedly stating the 
truth. In that case, I continued, I should have re- 
paired to the spot, and could have easily made such 
arrangements, as to enable you both to escape with- 
out in the least committing myself. Tell the Gene- 
ral how much I love, how much I revere him ; but 
tell him that I am extremely unhappy, that now it is 
utterly out of my power to assist his escape. There 
are too many persons who saw him arrested, and he 
is, I am sure, too generous to ask me to do what would 
consign my wife and my children to inevitable ruin. 

" We had proceeded so far, when word was brought 
to me, that an officer had just arrived on horseback 
with a message from the governor, and desiring to 
see me immediately. On entering the parlour, I 
found seated by the side of La Fayette, the governor's 
aid-de-camp, who, though he did not speak, seemed 
greatly enraged at what had taken place. As soon 
as he saw me, he ordered me in the name of his ex- 
cellency, to apprehend and send to Olmutz, under a 
strong guard, those two men, pointing to La Fayette 
and Bollmann, and accompanying every thing he said 
with a violent oath. He then informed me of all that 
had happened ; but every thing I heard, only excited 
iTiy greater sorrow for their misfortunes ; and I asked 
the aid-de-camp's permission, to offer him and the 
prisoners some refreshment, while the carriage and 
the guard were preparing. My wife shed tears on 



LA PAYETTE* 175 

merely hearing that General La Fayette had been 
arrested, after attempting to escape ; and indeed, all 
my children did the same ; for we had frequently 
Spoken of the General with great admiration, and 
though we had never seen him, we did not love or 
esteem him the less. The two unfortunate men re- 
fused to sit down to table with us, in spite of all my 
entreaties ; but walked up and down the room in the 
greaicst distress ; the sight of which, however, did not 
seem in the least to affect the appetite of the hungry 
aid-de-camp. At length the carriage arrived ; and 
the aid, along with my associate, got in with the two 
prisoners ; for I could not refuse this mark of respect 
to a man whom I so deeply venerated ; especially, as 
a great concourse of people had already assembled to 
Avitness and watch our proceedings." 

Such is the account which Richter gave me ; and 
I have inserted here with almost literal exactness the 
information T received at several conversations with 
this respectable man, for it made upon my mind an 
impression, which, as long as I live, nothing will 
efface. 

When I repeated the substance of these conversa- 
tions to General La Fayette, as we were one day 
seated in his carriage, with his lady, and his 
daughters, on our way from Olmutz to Hamburg, 
they all listened with marks of the greatest emotion, 
Madame de la Fayette could not restrain nor conceal 
ker tears ; but taking the hand of her husband and 



176 MEMOIRS OP LA FAYETTE. 

•mine, and pressing them warmly, " Oh my dear Feld- 
mann,"* said she " how happy your story has made 
me ; for it assures me there are good men in every 
part of the world." " Yes," observed La Fayette 
with a smile, " yes, even m Austria,'^'' 

* The reader is already informed, that I had adopted the ficti- 
tious name of Feldmann, for reasons hereafter to be mentioned. 



CHAPTER XII. 



S lETc ii of the Austiian police. Persecutions suffered under 
this police by the friends of the three prisoners at Olmutz. 
History of Joseph Frangois Huber, of Vienna. Adventure 
of the author with the police of Prague. Melancholy fate 
of Passy, the professor. Sufferings of La Fatette, Hu- 
ger and Bollmann. Singular mode of correspondence es- 
tablished between the three prisoners, La Fayette, Mau- 
burg and Puzy. 



The government of Austria was at this time ad- 
ministered by two men, blindly devoted to the cabi- 
net of St. James, and the avowed enemies of Prince 
Charles, generalissimo of the Austrian forces. By 
their intrigues, the Prince was recalled from the com- 
mand; but as this act of the government was follow- 
ed by loud murmurs against its impolir , and injustice, 
and as the reverses of the Austrian army were at- 
tributed to his removal, the Emperor, undeceived by 
the minister of war, who had sufficient courage to 
tell his sovereign the truth, reinstated him in his com- 
mand ; but so circumscribed his powers, as to render 
him subordinate to the control of a Supreme Council ; 



ITS MEMOIRS OF 

(the Ober-Hof'KreigS'Rath^) the consequence of 
which was, that he was unable to make the smallest 
movement without privately submitting the plan of 
his operations to the approbation of this council^ 
which held its sittings at Vienna. 

These two regulators of the Austrian government 
were the Baron de Thugut, prime minister, and fa- 
vourite protege of the deceased empress ; the other 
was his creature and confidant, the Count de Saurau. 
Both these men were at all times remarkably subser- 
vient and obsequious in the presence of their sove- 
reign, with whom they enjoyed the highest favour •, 
but their equals and inferiors were treated with the 
most insolent arrogance, and the most otfensive as- 
sumption of contemptuous superiority. Sworn ene- 
mies of every liberal opinion and philosophic senti- 
ment, they persecuted all who entertained them, to 
the last degree of bigoted intolerance. Jealous of 
the power they had unjustly usurped, and apprehen- 
sive that their feeble sovereign might learn the actual 
condition of the army, and the lamentable misman- 
agement of the affairs of the interior, they endeavour- 
ed to surround the throne with the passive creatures 
of their will, in order to conceal their errors and offen- 
ces. 

To these obscure and contemptible tyrants, Gene- 
ral La Fayette and his friends had to ascribe all the 
persecutions and misfortunes they incurred. As a 

triking example of their system of wilful oppression^ 



LA PATETTE, 179 

I shall here introduce an account of the persecution 
of the authors of certain essays, published in defence 
of General La Fayette. 

Mr. Joseph Francois Huber, encouraged by the 
manifest dissatisfaction which the inhuman treatment 
of La Fayette, Boilmann and Huger, after their at- 
tempt to escape, had occasioned among the more en- 
lightened and liberal classes at Vienna, had ventured 
to publish in a weekly journal, several articles in fa- 
vour of General La Fayette and his friends, adding, 
that in this respect, his opinion was supported by that 
of the greater part of the people of Austria. A fort- 
night had scarcely elapsed after the publication of 
these essays, when the police interfered, seized all the 
copies of the journal which remained unsold, and ar- 
rested the editor. On his refusing to give up the 
name of the author of the article in question, he was 
chained and thrown into a dungeon, where bread and 
water was his only food. His enlargement was only 
effected by the return of Mr. Huber, who had been 
for some time absent from town, and who, as soon as 
he was informed of the circumstance, hastened to ac- 
knowledge that he had written the offensive article, 
and insisted that his friend should be released from 
prison, and tried before a competent tribunal. To 
this appeal, the minions of the ministers replied, by 
throwing Huber into the dungeon which confined his 
friend, who was not released until two months after ; 
t.o punish him,^as these petty tyrants declared, for his 



180 MEMOIRS OF 

obstinate refusal to betray the confidence of Huber, 
The latter, in spite of all the exertions of his wife, and 
his numerous friends, was transferred secretly, and by 
night, loaded with chains, to the subterraneous cells 
of Munkatsch in Hungary, where he remained nearly 
three years in a wet unwholesome dungeon, filled with 
worms, toads, and other nauseous reptiles ; and where 
he would have perished beyond a doubt, without the 
assistance of several officers, his friends, who con- 
trived to convey to him, from time to time, supplies 
of clothing and more wholesome food. 

I saw Huber at Altona myself, and the account he 
gave me of his sufferings, which are published in the 
Keuesie Staats-JJnzeigen, was deplorable indeed; 
and sufficiently prove that the prisons of Austria, par- 
ticularly at Munkatsch and Spielberg, near Brunn, 
the capital of Moravia, are even worse than the 
old Bastile, of which so much has been said. Of 
these transactions, the Emperor Francis II. knew 
absolutely nothing ; and Huber and his friend owed 
their sufferings exclusively to the tyranny of Thugut 
and Saurau. All who understood the gloomy, sus- 
picious, and ferocious temper of these two ministers, 
knew themselves surrounded by spies and in- 
formers, and feared, at every instant, arrest, confisca- 
tion and imprisonment. 

In order to convey to the reader some idea of the 
unequal severity and inquisitorial manoeuvres of the 



LA FAYETTE. 181 

Austrian police, 1 shall here relate an adventure in 
which I myself was engaged. 

In the early part of 1796, I passed for the first time 
from Hamburg through Dresden and Bautzen, to 
Prague, on a journey, incognito, to Olmutz, in order 
to ascertain exactly the condition of the prisoners, 
and the chances of escape. Sieveking, who had 
given Bollmann letters of introduction and credit, 
gave me also, besides others, one for Balabene and 
Co., rich bankers at Prague. Travelling in a very 
elegant berlin with four post horses, well provided 
with money and bills of exchange, and attended by 
a single domestic, I arrived at Prague on the morning 
of the day of the great festival, held in honour of the 
patron saint of Bohemia, St. Nopomuck. On this oc- 
casion there assemble annually, more than 50,000 
strangers, who come upon a pilgrimage to Prague, to 
kneel at the shrine of the Saint, and to receive from 
the hands of his Ministers pardon for their sins, and 
the gift of the holy absolution. This absolution is 
contained in little printed papers, which are sold in 
immense quantities, from the price of a few Kreutz- 
ers* to two florins apiece, according to the greatness 
of the offence, and from their sale the priests are en- 
abled to realize incalculable sums. 

On my arrival at the gates of Prague, my car- 

* The value of the Austrian KreutzQir is rather less than that 
qf the American cent. 

16 



182( MEMOIRS OF 

riage was stopped by the sentry. The officer of the 
guard came out, and obliged me to produce ray 
passport, demanded my name, my last residence, 
place of birth, my rank, my business in Prague, 
how long I intended to remain in the capital, and 
at what hotel I should lodge, &;c. My answers to 
all these questions were placed in his port-folio. On 
my requesting him to return my passport, he told 
me, that his orders were to send to the police the 
passports of all strangers who arrived at the capi- 
tal, and, if circumstances called for it, even the tra- 
veller himself; but, as you are a gentleman, he 
added, I shall dispense with this last requisition. 

In consequence of the concourse of people, drawn 
together by the approaching festival, it was with 
the greatest difficulty that I could procure lodgings. 
I was at last successful at the hotel Romische Kayser, 
the landlord of which, met me at the door, and ma- 
king me several low and obsequious bows, called me 
your Excellency and Monsieur le Baron. His servility 
disgusted me, and I told him I was neither an Ex- 
cellency, nor a Baron. He then saluted me with 
the title of Ihro Gnaden, (your Lordship, or your 
Grace,) until, to get rid of his fulsome compli- 
ments, I asked him abruptly what paper he had in 
his hands. After a thousand ridiculous contortions 
and grimaces, I was allowed to understand that it 
contained a list of questions printed by the order of 



LA FAYETTE. 183 

the police, similar to the inquisitorial interrogatories 
which had already been put to me by the officer of 
the guard. At this I could scarcely control my 
impatience, and found it difficult to summon suffi- 
cient self-command to write the answers, and sign the 
paper. The landlord then told me that if he un- 
fortunately omitted to send to the police, an hour 
after the arrival of a stranger at his hotel, a paper 
filled up and signed, like the one he had presented 
to me, he would be punished by a fine of a thousand 
florins, or by an imprisonment for 18 days. 

Exhausted as I was with fatigue, having travelled 
day and night from Hamburg, without scarcely a 
moment's repose, I was nevertheless so impatient to 
reach Olmutz, that my intention was to remain at 
Prague only long enough to go to the banker's, and 
procure the amount of a bill drawn at sight by 
Mr. Strasow, a banker at Hamburg. The letters 
of|Sieveking were merely small slips of paper, 
scarcely two fingers in breadth ; for, after the fail- 
ure of Bollmann, no one was willing to incur the 
smallest unnecessary risk. On this account. Sieve- 
king advised me to conceal them with the utmost 
care, which I accordingly did. As his handwriting 
could not be mistaken, he did not sign any of these 
notes, and they contained simply these words : 
" The bearer is my intimate friend ; assist him in 
every iking, as you would me.'? The words in every 



184 MEMOIRS OF 

thing, which were underscored, authorized me to 
draw for 50,000 florins, in case of necessity, as Mr, 
Sieveking explained to me himself. But I was al- 
ready too well provided to make use of his letter of 
credit. 

This scrap of paper from Sieveking produced a 
wonderful effect. As soon as the Baron de Bala-^ 
bene bad read it, he received me with open arms, 
begged me to tell him what service he could render 
me, and paid me at once the amount of the bill of 
Strasow, in such coin as I preferred, notwithstand- 
ing it was the day of the great festival. I thought 
it prudent, however, not to communicate my inten- 
tions to him ; not from mistrust, for Sieveking had 
recommended him as a man on whom I could en- 
tirely depend ; but, as he could not in any way 
assist my designs, it seemed unadvisable to make 
an unnecessary confidant. 

On learning that I intended to leave Prague in an 
hour, he absolutely refused to let me go, till I had 
witnessed the festivities of a day so well meriting the 
notice of a stranger and a traveller. In short, I 
was obliged to remain. In the course of the day, we 
made an excursion on the Mulde in a gondola, and 
landed on the beautiful islands of Gros and Klein 
Venedig, where a large concourse of fashionable 
people had assembled. Afterwards, I saw the great 
procession, the bridge on which is placed the statue 



LA FAYETTE. 185 

of the Saint, superbly adorned, and surrounded by 
more than ten thousand wax tapers, by a multitude 
of priests, by an innumerable host of worshippers, 
who lay prostrate in the dust, and, in shor^, by all 
that imposing poasp and ceremonious magnificence 
observed in all Catholic countries, and, above all, in 
Austria, where superstition is so powerfully second- 
ed by fashion. 

I had given orders to my servant to have my horses 
ready at eleven in the evening, wishing to redeem the 
time I had lost during the day, in order that I might 
reach Oimutz the day but one after. Having urged 
me in vain to give up my intention to travel by night. 
Balabene obtained from the Governor a pass, by 
which the gates of the town would be opened to me ; 
for Prague is a fortified town, whose gates are clo- 
sed during the night, and none but men of distinc- 
tion and family are permitted to have passes, which 
they easily procure by paying a few florins to the 
guard. 

Highly gratified with the society of this amiable 
family, at whose' house there had been given that 
day a magnificent fete, I took my leave, and was 
conducted to my hotel. Before I reached it, how- 
ever, my servant, with every mark of consternation 
iu his countenance, met me, and desired to speak 
to me alone. From him I learned, to my great 

amazement, and, I must confess, to ray great em- 

16* 



ibi) MEMOIRS OF 

barrassment, that the President of the police request- 
ed to see me before he could give me my permit for 
the post horses. I immediately set out, accompa- 
nied by the servant I had hired on my arrival,* for 
the residence of the President. On the way, he re- 
marked, with a smile, " your excellency is too much 
of a gentleman to have any thing to fear." 

I was nov/ shown the way through a long suite of 
apartments, superbly furnished, into the closet of 
the President, who was alone, and, although it was 
at least half past eleven at night, seemed engaged 
biisily in writing. As soon as the door opened, he 
asked the servant who was there : " It is the gen- 
tleman your excellency! sent for," he replied, going 
out and closing the door. "Ah ha ! " said the other, 
turning his broad red face towards me, but without 
raising his ponderous body from the chair. " Well ! 
who are you f" This unmannerly reception and 
authoritative air, provoked me to reply in the same 
tone, ''lam a traveller." "From what place .^" 
" My passport will tell you." It lay by his side ; 
he unfolded it, and began to examine it. In the 
mean time, shocked at his incivility in allowing 
me to stand, I took up one of the arm chairs with 
which the large room was filled, placed it directly 
in front of him, and sat down. He contracted his 

* The greatest part of these servants, are spies of the police, 
t The reader is not to be surprised at this eternal repetition of 
title: he is to recollect this took place in Austria, not in America. 



LA FAYETTE. 18T 

brow, looked at me over the passport, but said no- 
thing. After he had attentively examined all the visa 
of the different places through which 1 had passed, 
the names of which were on the back of the passport, 
he asked me if I knew any of the inhabitants of the 
city. " I do," I replied ; " I have passed the whole 
day with the Baron de Balabene." " Ah ! sir, are 
you acquainted with the noble Baron de Balabene .f*" 
^' So well, that he this morning paid me a large sum 
of money, and refused to allow me to leave him to- 
day." These words seemed to work a miracle. He 
rose from his seat, addressed me with Ihro Gnaden, 
gave me his hand, told me he had been misinform- 
ed, and declared his delight at becoming acquaint- 
ed with me. He suddenly, however, seemed to re- 
collect himself, desired me to excuse him, passed into 
the antechamber, whispered to several of the ser- 
vants, and among these to the one I had. hired, and 
then returned and took a seat by my side. These 
manoeuvres on the part of my mysterious host, be- 
gan to make me uneasy ; for I had been warned by 
my friends at Hamburg, that I should have occasion 
for all my circumspection and prudence. I was 
soon reassured, however, by the entrance of several 
servants, v^ho now came in, bringing glasses, and 
three or four bottles of wine. A small table was 
then brought near the sopha on which we were sit- 
ting, and on it were arranged the wine and glasses, 



188 MEMOIRS OF 

with cakes and preserves. My entertainer then ask- 
ed me what wine I preferred ; " for I noiv see clear- 
ly," said he, "you're a gentleman, and we must 
empty a bottle together, while we wait for our friend, 
Balabene." " What ! have you sent for the Baron?" 
" I have, and I hope you'll not take it amiss. Our 
sovereign's commands* are so strict, that we cannot 
take too much precaution. I am the father of a 
very large family, and my fortune is small. I am 
surrounded with spies, and have sent for the Baron^ 
that I may not be accused of having neglected my 
duty. About a fortnight ago, we arrested the dri- 
ver of a diligence, in whose possession we found a 
book, in the cover of which was secreted a letter ad- 
dressed to a very respectable man at 01m utz, and 
in which, among other things, mention was made of 
a French officer, who was travelling incognito, the 
bearer of very interesting intelligence for General 
La Fayette, another French officer, with whom you 
are probably acquainted." As he uttered these last 
words, he fixed his eyes steadfastly on my face. But 
the stratagem did not succeed ; for, raising my glass, 
I drank to his health, and replied with the utmost 
indifference, " I know the name of the man you mean 
very well ^ it is mentioned in all the Gazettes ; but I 

* It v/ill be observed, that all these vexations were committed in 
the name of^the Emperor ; but I shall show in the sequel, that they 
€>riginated with Thugul and Sauraii. 



LA FAYETTE. 189 

did not know he was there— I thought he was at 
Magdeburg." At this he laughed heartily, and, ta- 
king me by the hand, told me that my ignorance was 
the best proof that 1 was not the French officer ;* and 
that, besides, I spoke German too well for a French- 
man. Balabene now entered, and confirmed the 
good opinion of the President ; we finished our bot- 
tles, my host gave me the permit, and wished me a 
very pleasant journey. 

Passy, however, of whose generous exertions in 
assisting the escape of La Fayette we have spoken 
at large in the preceding chapters, could not elude 
the vigilance and vengeance of Thugut and Saurau. 
According to the best information we have been able 
to obtain, it appears that, about six months after the 
enlargement of the prisoners, and our departure from 
Olumtz, he w^as no more to be seen; and it was 
strongly suspected, that he was thrown into the dun- 
geons of Spielberg or Munkatsch. We therefore 
take this opportunity, earnestly to entreat the friends 
of humanity in Austria, (if indeed, this work can ever 
hope to cross the cordonof Austrian police,) to publish 
to the world, whatever information they may possess of 
the fate of this unfortunate man. By so doing, a very 
signal favour will be conferred on the families of La 
Fayette, Latour-Maubourg, and Bureau de Puzy; 
and one at least as great on myself; for a close 

* I shall presently inform the reader more of this French officer 
and the book. 



190 MEMOIRS OF 

friendship, founded on the sincerest gratitude and 
esteem, had connected me with this excellent and 
benevolent man. With respect to the two tyrants 
who were the authors of the sufferings of the prison- 
ers, I beheve that the Count de Saurau is dead, and 
that Thugut drags out a miserable existence, de- 
servedly despised by every one around him. 

We must now return to the prisoners, who, as we 
have seen, were all three retaken and confined in 
subterraneous cells beneath the ramparts of the prison. 
Brauers, the superintendent, immediately ordered that 
La Fayette should be thrown into chains, and the irons 
were so closely fastened about his feet, that, for more 
than three months, he endured the most excruciating 
torture, of which all the while the governor was 
absolutely ignorant. For, notwithstanding his pre- 
vious professions, he never came now to visit the 
prisoners, nor took the least trouble to ascertain their 
melancholy situation. Was this owing to fear, indif* 
ference, or insensibility ? Let Count d'Arco justify 
himself, as he may, if he still be living, which, as I 
have never since inquired, I cannot now undertake 
to decide."^ From this moment. General La Fayette 

* In a narrative contained in the Edinburgh Annual Register, 
the Journal from which we extracted the speech of General Fitz- 
patrick, we find it stated as follows. " He (Bollmann) was soon 
told the melancholy tale, that La Fayette had been retaken, with 
the addition that his friend Huger had shared a similar fate. In 
despair, at having been the primary cause of his misfortune, and 
delerroiningto share it with him, lie voluntarily surrendered himself, 
and was committed a prisoner to the castle." Now, we ask the in- 



LA FAYETTE. 191 

was treated with the utmost rigour. He had, pre* 
vious to his confinement, suffered a very severe fit of 
illness at Magdeburg, of which he had never been 
thoroughly cured. His anxieties, his fatigues, his 
anguish and despair, at finding himself again in the 
power of his unrelenting jailer, so shattered his 
nerves that his fever returned with redoubled and 
alarming violence. In this state, he was allowed 
nothing for his bed but a little damp and mouldy 
straw ; irons were put round his feet, and round his 
waist was a chain, which was fastened to the wall, and 
barely permitted him to turn from one side to the 
other. No light was admitted into his cell, and he 
was even refused the smallest allowance of linen. 

The winter of 1 794-95 was extremely severe, but 
his inhuman jailers did not, on that account, relax 
from the rigour of prescribed and systematic oppres- 
sion. It seemed, indeed, sufficiently evident, that 
their object was to put an end to their victim's exis- 
tence by this ingenious device of irresponsible cruelty. 

telligent reader, if it is at all probable, that a man who had vio- 
lently resisted and forcibly assaulted an Austrian governor, for the 
purpose of aiding and abetting the escape of a prisoner, would be 
so absurdly benevolent as to resign himself voluntarily into the 
bands of the very man whose person he had assailed, and whose 
authority he had despised, to be thrown like a slave into a dungeon ? 
And for what purpose ? To insure his own misery, and to increase 
that of his friends, without being able to assist them in the least ; 
whereas, he might otherwise hope to redeem and repair the faulj 
he had before unintentionally committed. 



192 MEMOIRS OF 

Worn down by disease and the rigour of the season, 
his hair fell from his head, and he became emaciated 
to the last degree. To these physical distresses 
were now superadded, those mental anxieties, which 
are, perhaps, still more difficult to endure. The only 
information he could obtain, respecting the fate of his 
wife and children, for whom he felt the most painful 
solicitude, was, that they were still confined in the 
prisons of Paris ; and, in reply to his inquiries con- 
cerning the condition of BoUmann and Huger, his 
tormentors informed him that they -were soon to 
perish by the hands of the hangman ! 

As I have received no authentic information re- 
specting the treatment of these two heroic but un- 
fortunate young men, and as the details given in the 
Edinburgh Register, for the year 1 809, appear to me 
sufficiently exact, we will here transcribe, with a few 
observations, the account given at p. 519 of that use- 
ful and interesting journal. 

"The reader's attention must now be confined 
to Huger, the detail of whose sufferings the writer 
is better acquainted with than those of Bollmann, 
having been informed of them by himself. The day 
after his entrance into the castle, Huger received 
notice from the jailer to prepare for an examination 
before the chief magistrate of the city. As he was 
jiot conscious of having committed any very heinous 
crime, he was under no apprehensions for his life ; 



LA FAYETTE. 193 

but expected that, after he had told his story, and 
declared the motive of his actions, his judge might 
subject him to some slight punishment, perhaps a 
short imprisonment ; what then was his amazement, 
when he heard himself accused of having entered 
into a conspiracy against the Austrian government. 
" The examination was carried on by means of an 
interpreter, a young man of a benign aspect, who 
seemed to compassionate his situation, and who, 
when he gave such answers as he thought might tend 
to hurt his cause, made him repeat his answers,, 
softening their import, assuring him that he knew 
he did not exactly express himself in proper terms, 
and desiring him to recollect whether he did not mean 
to answer in such and such a manner. Huger saw his 
good intentions, and determined to rely on his judg- 
ment, especially after he had heard him say, in a 
low voice, ' I am your friend.' After this, and 
many subsequent examinations, the magistrate in- 
formed him he must not expect pardon, but advised 
him to prepare for the worst. This exhortation, so 
often repeated, began to have some effect upon him ; 
and, considering he was in the power of an absolute 
monarch, whose will was superior to law, he could 
not shake off some melancholy presages. His place 
of confinement was a loathsome dungeon, without 
light; he was fed with the coarsest food, chained to 

the floor during the night ; his own clothes taken 

17 



194 MEMOIRS OF 

from him, and others sent him that had been ah'eady 
worn by many an unfortunate prisoner. Thus he 
dragged on the first three months of his confine- 
ment. After that time he was removed to a better 
room, into which glimmered a borrowed light; bet- 
ter clothes and more wholesome food were given 
him, and his circumstances in every respect impro- 
ved. 

" But still he was uncertain as to his fate, and the 
jailer was the only human being who visited him. 
One day he was surprised with the appearance of 
his young friend the interpreter, Mr. W .* 

*' Nothing could exceed his joy at once more be- 
holding a kindly human face. He informed Huger 
that the court of Austria had believed that all the 
garrison of Olmutz had been engaged in the con- 
spiracy ; that many people had been arrested on 
suspicion ; for it could not be believed that two such 
young men, as he and Bollmann, could have formed 
and executed so daring a plan, without the aid of 
others ; but as no proofs had hitherto appeared, it 
was determined to bring them shortly to trial, and 
for that purpose lawyers were to be sent from Vien- 
na to assist the magistrates of the city. Huger now 
for the first time learned the complete failure of their 

"* The initials only of this excellent man's name are given, fos? 
necessary and obvious reasons. Editor of the jRfgz5fc?%"t 
t This may possibly be oar professor Passy. 



LA FAYETTE. 195 

scheme, and that Bollmann was under the same roof 
with him. However sad the reflection was, that his 
friend's sufferings equalled his own, yet he could 
not express the joy he felt at being so near him. 
Soon after, he discovered that he inhabited the room 
above him. Thenceforward his treatment was much 
less rigorous ; even the jailer, wlio till lately had ob- 
served a profound silence, relaxed his caution, and 
came frequently to visit iiim ; and though a man of 
few words, yet as his presence broke the dreary soli- 
tude, he felt happy whenever he made his appear- 
ance. Many were the experiments he tried to hold 
a communication with Bollmann, and at length he 
succeeded. 

"He discovered that the window, which threw a 
borrowed light into his cell, served likewise to throw 
light into that of Bollmann. He picked a piece of 
lime from the wall, and with it scratched a few 
words upon a black silk handkerchief he wore about 
his neck, then fixing it upon a stick, he climbed up 
the side of the room, and raised the stick as near 
the common window as he could, till it had attracted 
the attention of Bollmann, who, after many efforts, 
made himself master of it, and returned an answer 
by the same method. Delighted with having over- 
come this difficulty, they never suffered a day to 
pass without some communication. To W— 
they were indebted for the means of rendering theii' 



196 MEMOIRS OF 

situation still more comfortable, by engaging the 
jailer's wife in their interest ; a few presents, and 
now and then a small piece of money, induced her 
spcretly to bring thera books, food, wine, and warm- 
er clothes ; and at length to procure a meeting 
between the two friends, at first short, but by degrees 
become more hardy, they were permitted to pass 
some part of every day together.* The following is 
an extract of a letter written by Hu£?er to a near 
friend and relation, which, as it describes his situa- 
tion and feelings in a forcible manner, ought not to 
be omitted : 

" * I am equally ignorant how this affair may 
have been represented, or what may be thought in 
these times of an attempt to deliver M. de La Fay- 
ette. 

'* * The motives which, however, induced me to 
engage in it, cannot be judged by those who ex- 
amine all similar enterprises according to their 
success or failure ; believe me, it was neither un- 
reasonably undertaken, nor rashly executed, but 
failed from accidents which prudence could not 



^ '* This appears to us extremely iinprobablc ; inasmuch ds the 
hall of the Jesuit's College was filled with sentinels. There was 
stationed at the entrance a guard of twenty-five men, with their 
commanding officer ; and at the other extremity a guard of foui 
men with a corporal. Which way could Bollmann have passed la 
order to have alniost daily interviews with Huger, 



LA FAYETTE. 191' 

foresee. To the mortification of a failure were add- 
ed the miseries of a prison, which, in Austria, ex- 
•ceed aay thing known in England. In a small 
room, just long enough for my bed of straw, with 
eight-pence a day for my support — at night chained 
to the ground, and without books or light— I passed 
the first three months of my captivity. After this 
time my situation become gradually better; but 
I was not allowed to write to my friends, to be de- 
livered from my chains, or permitted the smallest 
intercourse with the world, till a fortnight before my 
release. 

" ' In such a situation, the consciousness alone of 
having done nothing dishonest or dishonourable, 
could afford that internal satisfaction, and inspire 
that stern patience, necessary to support calmly se 
sudden and severe a reverse of fortune ; but it has 
convinced me that a mind at peace with itself, can 
in no situation be unhappy. Daily habit also soon 
removed the unpleasant sensations excited by dis- 
agreeable and unaccustomed objects ; and the mind^ 
which no power can restrain, will always derive 
consolation from hope, and rarely want some sub-; 
ject to be actively employed upon. 

" ' My friend and companion, Mr. Bollmann, 
was in the same house, and our efforts to establish 
some communication, or to procure a momentary 

intervieWj afforded exercise for invention ; and, m 

IT* 



19# MEMOIRS OF 

proportion to the difficulty of eflfecting our wishes, 
the smallest success rewarded days of projects and 
expectation. I once also found means to disengage 
myself from my chains, and felt an emotion beyond 
the power of words to describe.' 

"'The slave, liberated by the bounty of his master, 
experiences nothing similar to it ; he feels obligation 
for a favour conferred ; but a person formerly free, 
breaking the chain of tyranny and oppression, has 
the double enjoyment of overcoming his enemy, and 
regaining his liberty by his own exertions. Mine 
was but ideal, for I was still surrounded with walls 
and sentinels; it was an event which might be of 
such consequence that I did not permit the reality 
to interrupt the happiness it afforded me : and I pro- 
bably felt more enjoyment at that moment, than, in 
general, one half the world ever experienced in their 
lives, even those possessing freedom, wealth, and 
friends. My long captivity has not then been wholly 
miserable, nor without some pleasure.' 

" At length, at the end of seven months, they were 
informed that the crown lawyers were arrived. The 
government by this time was satisfied that the attempt 
to liberate La Fayette was planned independently by 
two adventurers, and that it was not a plot laid by the 
secret agents of France, in which the garrison of 
Olmutz at least was concerned, if it were not more 
widely extended 5 and upon their trial, the sole fact 



LA FAYETTE. 199 

of having attempted to rescue a state prisoner was 
alleged against them, 

" This fact being proved, they vv^ere remanded to 
their prison, to await the sentence which was to be 
pronounced against them by the supreme magistrate. 
They were now, however, permitted every indul- 
gence but liberty. It was some days before they 

heard from W ;* and when he came, they were 

astonished and confounded to hear from him, that 
their punishment was intended to be imprisonment 
for life. He, however, consoled them, by hinting that 
if they could by any means procure money, this sen- 
tence might be changed to one much less severe, as 
it remained with the magistrate to pass what sentence 
he thought proper, or even to release them entirely.f 
Bollmann had no fortune, and as Huger had no cre- 
dit in Austria, it would be a long time before he 

could receive a remittance from London. W , 

their guardian angel, promised to do all he could for 
them. 

* This could not have been Pass}'-, for he never would have con- 
sented to be the messenger of such disgraceful intelligence. 

t This is another improbability. No civil magistrate in Austria 
is ever permitted to be the absolute arbiter of the fortunes of a man 
who has committed an offence against a military officer. The pre- 
sident of the Olmutz police, could not certainly pronounce an arbi- 
trary sentence, affecting the prisoners committed to the charge of the 
governor or of the military authorities, whose powers are as predo- 
minant in Austria as in Prussia, and equally as jealous of the in- 
terference of civil jurisdiction. 



'^0 MEMOIRS OF 

" In the vicinity of Olmutz resided a Russian noble-; 
naan, of most polished manners, joined to the greatest 

benevolence of heart. With him, W enjoyed 

a perfect intimacy and friendship ; they were con- 
genial souls. W — — had made him acquainted 
with the whole of their story ; through him he had 
been able to administer so frequently to their comfort; 
and he now nobly offered to advance them whatever 
money they might want to accomplish their release, 
and to defray their expenses to Hamburgh.^ Ha- 
ving thus removed the greatest difficulty, his next 
care was to sound the sentiments of the magistrates 
This he could easily effect, as, in the capacity of in- 
terpreter, he had constant communication with him. 
He soon discerned that the magistrate was not averse 
to his speaking in their favour ; and when he artfully 
insinuated that a large rcAvard would certainly attend 
his declaring himself inclined to pardon, he found he 
was listened to with more attention. Having gained 
this point, he very soon came to an eclaircissement. 
The magistrate made an exorbitant demand ; W— 
said, it was useless for him to go to the prisoners with 
such terms, and as he knew exactly the state of their 
finances, he could at once mention what they had to 

* Within my personal knowledge and observation, there was no 
Kussian nobleman living in the vicinity of Olmutz. It is more than 
probable that this wsls no other than the banker Hirschj of whom we 
have already so frequently spoken. 



LA FAYETTE. 20X 

give, and therefore the utmost he could expect. 
This sum was fifty pieces. He refused to comply for 
less than a hundred. In answer to this, W — ' — de- 
sired him to consider, that if he delayed his determi- 
nation he might lose his prize altogether, for that 
great interest was making at Vienna, for the release 
of the prisoners, which he had no doubt would suc- 
ceed, as, amongst others, the English and American 
ambassadors had exerted themselves in their favour. 

" This upright magistrate at last yielded to the im- 
pulse of avarice, and agreed that, if the prisoners 
would send him the money before they left the pri- 
son, they should be released the next day. To this 
he answered, that the^- were so distrustful of all about 
them, that he was certain they would rather await 
the result of the petition at Vienna, than part with 
their little stock of money at an uncertainty ; but 
added, that he himself would become their security, 
and be answerable to him for the money, in case they 

did not pay it. To this he agreed, and W was 

authorised to negotiate with the prisoners. All mat- 
ters being soon settled, the term of their imprison- 
ment was first fixed at fourteen years, then shorten- 
ed to seven, soon after to one, then to a month, and 
lastly, to a week ; at the expiration of which, they 
were released from prison. 

"They immediately repaired to the house of the 
magistrate to return him thanks for the many indul- 



^202 MEMOIRS OF 

gences he had allowed them, and upon shaking 
hands with them at parting, the stipulated sum was 
put into his hands. It is not to be supposed they 
made a long stay at Olmutz; no longer than was 
necessary to pour out their grateful acknowledg- 
ments to the Russian nobleman, and, above all, to 
the noble minded, generous W , to whose kind- 
ness they owed all the comforts they had experien- 
ced in prison, and to whose friendly and humane ex- 
ertions they were ultimately indebted for their libe- 
ration."^ 

Count d'Arco, governor of Olmutz, ^eing sus- 
pected by Thugut and Saurau, of having treated La 
Fayette with too much indulgence, was, a few 
months after the attempted escape, removed, and 
succeeded by Baron deSchroter, general of artillery. 
At the same time, the superintendent. Captain Brau- 
ers, was dismissed, to make way for the Count de 
Maquelico, an Irishman by birth. 

Richter, the mayor of Braunseifen, received from 
the minister a letter filled with encomiums, in which 

* I understand, but from a source on which I caniiot depend, that 
Mr.'Huger is now in Charleston. If that be the case, I beg leave 
to solicit from that gentleman an authentic letter, confirming or 
amending what is here related ; as I have never been able to as- 
certain the fact, from my personal inquiries. Such a communica- 
tion would be extremely acceptable, and I should regard it as an 
honour and a duty, to publish, literally, any information he may be 
Kmd enough to communicate. 



LA FAYETT2. 203 

he was informed that his majesty had a proper sense 
of the zeal and attachment he had shown in the 
arrest of La Fayette and Bollmann ; and that, in 
order the better to evince his satisfaction, his ma- 
jesty had sent him a medal of gold, with a chain of 
the same, accompanied by the gracious permission 
that he might wear it on all great public occasions, 
I have seen both the letter and the medal ; the sight 
of which produced upon me very disagreeable im- 
pressions ; and I owe it to the merit of this excellent 
man, to state, that it was only shown to me at the 
particular and reiterated instance of his friend, Mr. 
Hirsch, who took me to see him at my first arrival 
at Olmutz. 

The new governor, de Schroter, was a man ad- 
vanced in life, of not unkind feelings, but rude and 
abrupt in his deportment, and very much addicted 
to the pleasures of the table. General La Fayette 
remained in irons for more than three mouths after 
his arrival, and no one had courage enough to 
speak in his behalf. Kreutschke, the head surgeon, 
who had, fortunately, escaped suspicion, had however 
not forgotten his friend, and one day speaking on 
the subject to Hirsch, it was agreed, after consulting 
Passy, the professor, to ascertain, if possible, the 
new governor's sentiments with regard to the pri- 
soners ; and this was accomplished in the following 
manner. 



204 MEMOIRS OF 

Hirsch kept decidedly the best table in OlmutZ; 
and had his vaults abundantly stocked with excellent 
wines. Of this circumstance, de Schroter was dis- 
posed to avail himself; and accordingly, from the 
day of the first entertainment which the banker 
gave in honour of the governor's appointment and 
arrival, he made it a point to dine with him regularly 
two or three times a week, and the wine of course was 
never forgotten. Maquelico, who was also a good 
judge of wine, though rather too poor to drink any of 
his own, generally came with his excellency to these 
family dinners, as he called them. Hirsch, on one 
occasion, invited the governor to dine at his house 
on his birth day. The invitation was immediady 
accepted. At this dinner none were present but a 
few select friends, and among these the surgeoUj 
the professor, and the superintendent. Hirsch took 
care to provide a sumptuous repast, and to fill his 
neighbour, the governor's glass, with every variety 
of wine. The guests were, of course, in admirable 
spirits, and when the dessert was served, the go- 
vernor took occasion to offer a compliment in his 
usual style, on the magnificence of his host's hospi- 
tality, and the excellent flavour of his wines. To 
this Hirsch politely replied, that he had undoubtedly 
made every effort to receive his excellency with the 
honours due to his rank ; but, he begged leave to 
observe, that there were many poor wretches who 



LA FAYETTE. 205 

v,'Ould be satisfied with the thousandth part of their 
fare : and he would take that opportunity, he added, 
to ask of his excellency on this, his birth day, one 
single solitary favour. The governor, whose con- 
duct had now begun to show the progress of the 
wine, laughed with great good nature, and told him 
his request was granted before it was made. Em- 
boldened at this promising reply, Hirsch entreated 
him to extend some little indulgences to La Fayette, 
to take off his irons, and to allow him to leave his 
dungeon for an hour, in presence, at least, of the 
assembled guard. Certainly, certainly, answered 
de Schroter, and turning to the superintendent, ex- 
claimed, Maquelico, you may give orders that the 
irons be removed from the prisoner, and that he be 
allowed, from to-morrow, to walk for an hour — re- 
collect ! for an hour, and no more — in the Jesuits^ 
hall, (the name of the prison where La Fayette and 
his friends were confined.) This indulgence re-, 
lieved in a measure the General's sufferings ; but he 
was unable to hold any communication with his 
friends, for, although they came out at the same hour, 
and to the same hall, yet, each one of them was sur- 
rounded by four soldiers, who allowed them to walk 
only within the prescribed limits, and forbade them 
to speak or make signs to each other, on pain of 
being remanded to prison immediately, and of for- 
feiting entirely the privilege of walking in the halL 

18 



206 MEMOIRS OP 

Pi*evious to the attempt of the General to make 
his escape, he corresponded with his two friends 
without much difliculty by means of the surgeon, 
who received for his services, on different occasions, 
many valuable presents, which Hirschpaid, from the 
very large advances of money which the American 
Consul at Hamburgh, Mr. John Parish, had placed 
at the disposal of the Olmutz banker. The Gene- 
ral's valet-de-chambre, Felix, was occasionally al- 
lowed to remain in his master's prison. On one of 
these occasions, Felix told him that, in case of ne- 
cessity, he had thought of a plan to enable him to 
converse with Maubourg and Fuzy, by means of a 
kind of flute he had made of reeds, and which fur- 
nished the notes of a double octave, or sixteen tones, 
of which the combinations represented words, and 
even phrases. Pleased at the ingenuity of the 
scheme, La Fayette learned by heart this telegra- 
phic dictionary, by means of which he was enabled 
to communicate his thoughts to his friends, without 
observation or suspicion. 

At first they attempted to take away Felix's flute, 
on pretence that it made too much noise, but on his 
earnest and repeated entreaties, they allowed him to 
keep it. As he played very slowly, Maubourg and 
Bureau de Puzy marked with a piece of coal or 
wood the corresponding phrases, until they had in- 
terpreted the whole of the intelligence conveyed from 



LA FAYETTE. 207 

their friend. When we were together at the chateau 
of Lehmkuhlen, in Holstein, after the liberation of 
La Fayette, I expressed some curiosity to see how 
this correspondence was eflected. Felix was accor^ 
dingly brought into the parlour where we all were 
assembled, and performed on his flute the purport of 
several little notes which I gave him, and which 
Maubourg and Puzy, in a distant apartment, imme- 
diately interpreted. I mention this fact, to show that 
ingenuity will contrive resources under the most dis- 
couraging circumstances, and learn to defeat the 
stratagems of tyranny itself. This happy invention, 
which we believe is entirely new, does very great 
credit to both* La Fayette and his valet. 

They had contrived another mode of correspon- 
dence, quite as curious as that which 1 have mention- 
ed. As the surgeon seldom visited Maubourg and 
Puzy, they could not often avail themselves of his 
assistance; and during the indisposition of Felix, 
the enchanted flute was silent, for want of a perform- 
er. The following expedient was then resorted to. 
Maubourg had purchased a young poodle, a species 
of dog, which, as every one knows, is very sagacious, 
and will fetch and carry remarkably well. 

Each of the friends had liis note prepared and 
rolled up in a small piece of wool, and brought it 
with him into the hall, where at three in the after- 
noon they were permitted to walk. Here Mau- 



208 MEMOIRS OF 

bonrg, who bad trained the dog well to his duly, 
threw the ball of wool, in which was concealed the 
note he had prepared to General La Fayette, and 
told the spaniel to fetch it. But the General, instead 
of the ball which Maubourg had thrown to him, put 
his own into the mouth of the spaniel, who brought 
it faithfully back to his master. Then Maubourg, 
who stood between La Fa3^ette and Puzy. turned to 
the latter, and repeated the same manoeuvre with 
him. On returning to their cells, the three friends? 
opened the balls, and read, with great pleasure, each 
other's notes, prepared their replies, and the next 
day Mustapha played the messenger's part with 
equal success. 

These three gentlemen have frequently told me. 
that after exchanging their notes, the hour they were 
permitted to walk became no longer a privilege, and 
they were impatient to return to their dungeons to 
read each other's reply, which generally contained 
nothing of consequence, but was always very ac- 
ceptable. 

No person who has not been placed in similar cir- 
cumstances, can possibly appreciate the value which 
trifles like these, on such occasions, acquire. Thej 
told me, too, that the jailers, the soldiers, and the 
whole guard, far from suspecting the meaning of 
Mustapha's manoeuvres, were the first to laugh M 
his gambols, and admire his sagacity. 



CHAPTER XIH. 



Madame de la Fayette. Her imprisonment at Paris. 
Her sufferings, and journey to Vienna. Her audience ot 
the Emperor. Interview with her husband at Ohnutz. 
Answer to the Governor. Her heroic devotion. 



After the day of the 20th June, 1792, on which 
the royal dignity was wantonly degraded — after the 
ever memorable tenth of August, on which the pow- 
er of the sovereign was finally annihilated — after the 
second of September, when the men of blood filled 
the measure of all tlie crimes they had the power 
to perpetrate — the convention, on the 22d January, 
1793, passed the iniquitous and impolitic sentence, 
which doomed the unfortuate Louis XVI. to perish 
on that scaffold, to which his wife and sister were 
destined soon to follow him. 

General La Fayette, who, at the time, was in 
prison at Magdeburg, was immediately informed of 
this event by his jailers, who had the barbarity to 
attribute to him the death of his King. They fu- 
riously burst into the dungeons of Messrs. La Fay- 

18* 



r2lO MEMOIRS OP 

ette, Maubourgj Puzy, and Alexandre Lametb, load- 
ed them with insults, and told them that their 
sovereign fortunately had it now in his power to 
revenge himself upon them, as the prime instigators 
of the ignominious death of Louis, by consigning 
them to torture and to death. Even the unfortunate 
domestics, Felix and Augustus, who were separated 
from their master, were not spared on this occasion. 
M. Bureau de Puzy alone understood German, but 
they all comprehended too well the meaning of 
these threats ; and trembled, not so much for their 
own fate, as for that of their families in France, as 
they could easily conceive what might be the fatal 
results of such political fanaticism. The consequen- 
ces of this event were terrible indeed ; it divided the 
Convention into two parties, and then followed, in 
gloomy succession, imprisonments, revolutionary 
tribunals, scaffolds, assassinations, and the most atro- 
cious tyranny that ever disgraced the annals of history. 
These dreadful days of terror and of blood, are 
now but too well known. I should not, therefore, 
have alluded to them, had not the families of our 
illustrious prisoners suffered so severely on their 
account. 

But liow shall 1 delineate the character of that 
virtuous and admirable woman, how express the 
profound veneration with which my heart is filled, 
how depict those qualifications, that rare and heroic 



LA FAYETTE. 211 

self-devotion, the model of all that is great, and 
noble, and exalted, which adorned and characterized 
the too short life of this extraordinary female, whose 
claim to all the praise we can bestow is enforced by 
the recollection of how well she deserved the name 
of Madame de La Fayette ? We defy the ablest 
writer to do justice to the merits of this distinguish- 
ed woman. He may convey some faint idea of her 
noble character, but can never make his portrait 
of her virtues faithful and complete. It is entirely 
out of our power to describe the situation of Madame 
de la Fayette, when she was informed of the pro- 
scription, the flight, and the fetters of her unfortunate 
husband. It was a blow that almost overpowered 
her ; but her firmness and her courage, instead of 
abandoning her, rose with the occasion, only to 
subject her, however, to the test of a still severer 
trial. She, together with her two daughters, the 
3^oung Anastasia and Virginia, was confined in the 
prisons of Paris, because the implacable foes of her 
husband, unable to glut their rage on him, transfer- 
red their vengeance to his unfortunate family, and 
made the victims of their persecution, a mother and 
her two young daughters, whose only defence were 
their virtues and their tears. Madame de la Fay- 
ette expected every day the preferment of the 
charges against her, which at that period was a de^ 
cree of death 5 every day she wept over the fate of 



•212 MEMOIRS OF 

her husband and her unfortunate children, and every 
day she received the news that her friends and rela- 
tives had fallen by the guillotine. The extensive pro- 
perty of her husband was confiscated and sold ; a 
portion of her own shared the same fate; while her 
famil^'j which was among the most opulent as well 
as the most numerous, was ruined for ever. As for 
herself, surrounded as she was by the terrors of 
death, she still remained calm and firm, weeping 
only for her husband and her children. Her bound- 
less confidence in the decrees of that divine Pro- 
vidence which regulates the destinies of feeble mor- 
tals, consoled and supported her. She has often 
acknowledged to me since, that when the anguish 
and agony of body and mind had almost deprived 
her of her senses, she had still resolution enough to 
suppress her tears, and repair to some corner of her 
miserable prison, and then offer up a prayer to 
Heaven, without being perceived by her children, 
who were fellow prisoners in the same apartment. 
Afterwards the young companions of her misery 
shared in her devotions, and they then furnished 
each other with mutual consolation. 

The twenty-seventh day of July, 1794, (9 Ther- 
midor,) put an end to the reign of terror, and hurled 
the tyrants of France to the dust, from which they 
sprung. The greater part of the victims who had 
F^een doomed to the scaffold, were released from 



LA FAYETTE. 213 

prison ; but Madame de la Fayette could not ob- 
tain her liberty for several months after, notwith- 
standing the active exertions of her numerous 
friends. We can easily imagine what she must have 
suffered during more than nineteen months imprison, 
ment,and how her health must have been affected. Hti^r 
frail and delicate constitution was as it were com-', 
pelled to obey the influence of her great vivacity, 
her uncommon strength of mind, and that firmness 
and moral courage, which so eminently distinguish- 
ed her. But her health, injured by her sufferings^ 
absolutely required repose and medical assistance^ 
Her friends, the physicians, and all heracquaintance^ 
implored her, in vain, to remain for a few months 
in the country, where, by care and attention; 
she might hope to re-establish her health. But her 
every thought, her whole soul, was at Olmutz ; and, 
impatient to be able to bury herself alive, with her 
dear, her much loved friend, in his gloomy dun- 
geon, to assuage his grief, or to perish with him, 
she chided her weakness, silenced her griefs, and 
set out on her glorious enterprise. There is but 
one opinion respecting an attachment so ardent, a 
self devotion so heroic. This act alone, which hag 
immortalized Madame de la Fayette, would serve 
(o show her character ; and yet there are a thousand 
others, which speak a similar language. 

After having communicated her unalterable re- 



\ 



j 



214 MEMOIRS OF 

solution to the few friends and relatives that shfe 
still had left, and having made the necessary pre- 
parations for her journey, slie set out from Paris for 
Strasburg, with her two daughters, the eldest of 
wfiom, Anastasia, was sixteen, and the youngest, Vir- 
ginia, thirteen years of age. 

/ Aware that the name of her husband would pre- 
vent her from obtaining access to the Emperor Fran- 
cis, his chief jailer, she provided herself with an 
American passport, under the name of Mrs. Mottie., 

/f which was one of the Christian names of General La 
Fayette. She had before sold a portion of her jew- 
els, to provide the necessary means to prosecute her 
long and painful journey ; and so well was the secret 
of her departure kept, that she had already arrived at 
Sti^asburg, while she was still supposed to be at Pa- 
ris ; her porter having received orders to say to all 
those who called at her hotel in Paris, that Madame 
de la Fayette had gone to spend some time in the 
country. She learnt at Strasburg, that she might pos- 
sibly obtain permission to shorten her route by pass- 
ing through Lintz and Regensburg, directly to Vien- 
na 5 but as the Austrian army occupied that country, 
no one could pass their lines without a written per- 
mit from the Archduke Charles, Commander-in-chief 
of the army. She accordingly despatched one of 
her husband's former aids de camp to the Prince, to 
ask for this permission, in the name of Madame Mot- 



LA fAYETTE. 2ll5 

ti^. The Archduke Charles received Colonel Louis 
Romoeuf with his accustomed kindness, and told him 
that he sincerely regretted that he could not grant 
the request of Madame Mottie, but that his hands 
were tied. This frank answer sufficiently explains 
what we have said of the despotic system of Thugut 
and Saurau, and of the enmity entertained against 
this Prince, and which the late Empress, his own 
sister-in-law, shared with the two , ministers. Ma- 
dame de la Fayette was accordingly obliged to pass 
through Dresden to Vienna, where she found two la- 
dies who were well received at court. Of these one 
>vas the wealthy Dutchess of Urselle, an emigrant from 
Brabant, of amiable manners and lively conversation, 
and the other the Countess of Windischgratz, to whom 
she discovered herself. Both of them highly esteemed 
La Fayette, and sincerely loved his wife, as soon 
as they had learnt to know her. They' introduced 
her to some acquaintances, who proved extremely 
useful to her, particularly to the Prince of Rosen- 
berg, who, full of admiration of the exalted senti- 
ments of Madame de la Fayette, procured for her an 
audience of the Emperor. As the rank, the fortune, 
and the qualifications of this Prince, were above the 
reach of the intrigues of Thugut and Saurau, they 
were ignorant of this audience until after it had taken 
place ; for the persons interested and initiated into 
the secret took every precaution to keep it conceal- 
ed, so that no person could believe that Madame de 
la Fayette would obtain free access to the Emperor. 



-216 MEMOIRS OP 

Madame de la Fayette surpassed herself on this 
critical occasion. She summoned all her cou- 
rage, took her two interesting daughters with her, 
and accompanied by the Dutchess of Urselle and the 
Prince of Rosenberg, presented herself before the 
Emperor, and asked of him, in the name of justice and 
humanity, to liberate her husband ; alleging that he 
had committed no offence against his majesty ; that 
he had been forced to quit his country, and that his 
intention was to have embarked for America. That 
if this request was denied her, she asked permission 
to see her husband, and share his imprisonment. 

She spoke with such eloquence and truth, that a 
strong impression was made on the naturally well 
disposed mind of Francis, who heard her with much 
attention, but with an air of great embarrassment. 
He reflected for a moment, and then addressed 
Madame de la Fayette in these few words, in French : 
''This affair is complicated. 1 have not the power 
to dowhat 1 would wish* but I grant with much plea- 

* The words of the Emperor, / have not the power to do what I 
would ivishf are certainly very extraordinary from the lips of a pow- 
erful and absolute monarch. Mr. Charles Fox has ably exposed 
this inconsistency, in a speech made by him subsequent to that of 
General Fitzpatrick, from which we have given an extract in the 
tenth chapter. In the course of this speech, Mr. Fox took occasion 
.to remark as follows : 

" Is there a gentleman in this house who entertains a doubt of the 
answer made by the Emperor to Madame de la Fayette, in reply to 
the request she addressed to the Prince, during hfs confrtrement in 



LA PAYETTE 217 

sure what is in my povTer, by permitting you to join 
M. de la Fayette, and if I were in your place, I 

prison : of the impious alternative that was presented to her in the 
uarae of this monarch, and of the reply she made, so worthy of her- 
self ? Do we not all know that a government engaged in the most 
Jioly of wars, a war waged in defence of religion, humanity, and so- 
cial order, not only refused this woman, who has rendered herself 
illustrious, alike by her virtues and misfortunes, that boon, which 
social order, humanity, and religion, loudly demanded in her be- 
half, — but as my worthy friend has justly remarked, they have ag- 
gravated the crime of their refusal by a refinement of insult and 
cruelty, in offering her the insidious and aggravating temptation of 
abandoning the honourable enterprise to which she had devoted her- 
self? Who can estimate, without horror, the price that was set 
upon the indulgence which they condescended to offer her? Our 
cruelties have injured your health; you have need of succour, 
which you can only find at Vienna ; you are denied an entrance 
into that city, but you can go wherever else you please, to find the 
assistance you require, on condition, however, that you abandon 
forever that husband, who has no hope, no consolation, but in you. 
Will any one attempt to deny the fact of this insulting, this inhu- 
man proposition ? Is not the letter which proves it before the pub- 
lic, and is not its authenticity incontestible ? Is there, then, the 
shadow of a doubt as to the crime of the ministers, I will not say 
who counselled the Emperor, for it is impossible to suppose that he 
knew any thing of this detestable conduct, but can there be a doubt 
of the crime of those ministers, who deceive the emperor, write, act, 
order, torture in his name and without his knowledge, and thus dis- 
honour their master, by a species of cruelty which the tyranny of Ro- 
bespierre never surpassed. ^' * ^' With the same diabolical perversi- 
ty which incited the ministers of the Emperor to lay snares for the 
courageous piety of the wife, did they endeavour to seduce the loyal- 
ty of the husband ; they dared to hope that the brave' La Fayette 
would sully that brilliant reputation which he had so justly acquired, 
would tarnish those laurels with which his brow was adorned, would 

19 



2 is MEMOIRS OF 

would act as you intend to do. M. de la Fay-^ 
ette is well treated^ but the presence of his wife 
and children will be an additional source of gratifi- 
cation to him." Madame de la Fayette then spoke 
of Messrs. de Maubourg and Bureau de Puzy, and 
of the servants of her husband's household, add- 
ing, that there could be nothing complicated as re- 
garded them. 

The Emperor permitted her to write to him after 
her arrival at Olmutz, and to address her demands 
directly to his Imperial Majesty, and added very 
graciously, that he would do every thing that he 
was able, to prove to her the esteem that he had 
conceived for her. While he spoke these few words, 
he looked steadfastly at the young daughters of La 
Fayette, and then apparently labouring under very 
great embarrassment, made a rather awkward bow, 
and retired. 

} sacrifice that lofty character, which will flourish in the annals of the 
I world, and live in the recorded homage of posterity, when kings 
I and the crowns they wear shall have been levelled with the dust. 
But La Fayette, while he naturally disapproved of the measures 
which exiled him from his country, was too magnanimous to favour 
the designs of those who had leagued against her. So perfidious 
an act could never approach that heart, which never ceased for an 
instant to nourish the sacred fire of a patriotism as pure as it was 
holy. Is this the offence for which you intend to punish him? Are 
ryou prepared to advance the doctrine, that they who are dissatisfied" 
with the constitution of their country, not only may, but ought to 
|.ake up arms to destroy it, under the penalty of being surrendered 
to the inipIacaMe resentment and rage of their enemies? ^ '^ * '^'-' 



LA FAYETTE. 219 

IVIadame de la Fayette had been informed by her 
friends, that the Emperor would not grant the re- 
lease of her husband ; for they were perfectly 
well acquainted with the character of the two mi- 
nisters : she had, however, flattered herself with the 
hope of obtaining her request, from having heard so 
much of the goodness of the Emperor's heart ; but dis- 
appointed in this, she consoled herself with the gra- 
cious words of the monarch, and prepared to set out 
immediately, to see once more the husband she so ten- 
derly loved. She wroteseveral letters to the Dutchess of 
Urselle,and to the Countess of Windischgratz, fromthe 
city of Brunn, situated between Vienna and Olmutz, 
expressive of her joy and admiration, and written 
in her usual strong, concise, and elegant style. She 
addressed one, still more worthy of herself, to the 
Prince of Rosenberg, wherein she expressed all the 
gratitude she felt, and the happiness she now ex- 
perienced, after she had been abandoned by every 
ray of hope and prospect of enjoyment. 

But this delightful illusion vanished, alas ! too 
soon ; and the dreadful reality proved to her, how 
she had been imposed on, and how this feeble 
monarch had erred, entirely ignorant, as he was, of 
the deplorable situation of General La Fayette, 
whom he had just assured her was very well treated. 

Our readers have already seen what this treatment 
was. 



CHAPTER XIV 



Circumstances which operated to prevent the liberation of 
liA Fayette, Maubourg, and Puzy. Detail of the mo- 
tives which led the author to proceed from Hamburg to 
Olmutz and Vienna, in the beginning of the year 1796. 



Madame de Latour Maubourg and Madame Bu- 
reau de Puzy, had been imprisoned, together with 
Madame de la Fayette, at Paris, during the reign of 
terror. After they had regained their freedom, they 
attempted, but in vain, to rejoin their husbands. 
Permission was refused them to enter the Austrian 
dominions, and they were consequently obliged to 
remain in the environs of Paris, 

They were not acquainted with the innocent strata- 
gem which Madame de la Fayette had resorted to, 
in order to obtain her passport. I mean that of 
retaining only one of her husband's names, and 
of procuring, through the mediation of the Ame- 
rican ambassador, who resided at Paris, a pass, un- 
der the name of Madame Mottie. As there was no 
suspicion attached to this name, the Austrian police 
did not attempt to oppose her. She had so caution- 



MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETTE^ 221 

ed and instructed her tw^o daughters, and a trusty 
servant who accompanied her, that nobody suspected 
who she was, until she arrived at Vienna, at the 
house of the Dutchess d'Urselle, an old acquaintance 
and friend. 

France was about this time rescued from the ty- 
ranny of the elder Robespierre, by the courage of 
the representative Legendre, who marched at the 
head of a body of brave men against the Jacobin 
club, drove them from the hall which they occu- 
pied, and brought the keys to the National Assembly, 
But the tranquillity of the government was by no 
means established. The convention nominated, for 
members of the Executive Directory, men whose 
want of popularity increased the discontent of the 
nation, and contributed, in no small measure, to the 
imhappy agitations which afterwards ensued. 

The years 1795 and 96, exliibit an extraordinary 
picture of the mad extravagance of human passions. 
When we consider the rapid progress of political 
events, the alliance of Spain with France, the dis- 
guised exertions and intrigues of England to pro- 
long the war, her ostensible attempts to negotiate a 
peace, the arrogant and unconstitutional condjict of 
the French government, the feeble and imprudent 
measures adopted by the legislative body, the bold- 
ness and indiscretion of the royalists, the revolution 
of the 1 8th Fructidor, the proscriptions which this rcr 
volution gave rise to, and all fh<? ntDaal^eTlefis vicissi- 

I.9-* 



MEMOIRS OP 

tti(Jes of that eventful period, we cannot be astonish- 
ed that the cries of the three unhappy prisoners at 
Olmutz, should he drowned and forgotten in the tem- 
pestuous ocean of political disorder and military 
discord. There were, however, other reasons why 
no interference was made in their behalf, which we 
propose at present briefly to enumerate. 

General La Fayette, proscribed, condemned, and 
compelled to quit his army and his country, because 
a party of factious disorganizers feared his popularity, 
integrity, courage, and beneficent principles, was 
never allowed an opportunity to refute the absurd 
accusations preferred against him by his enemies. 
It was his peculiar fate to be driven, by the bitter 
persecutions of Jacobin demagogues, into the power 
and prisons of Jacobin despots. 

La Fayette had unquestionably the mass of the 
French people in his favour; but as a leader is 
always necessary to urge them to good or incite them 
to evil, there was no one among them who had cou- 
rage enough to raise his voice in favour of a man^ 
who had so faithfully struggled to procure for them a 
wise and well regulated liberty, without once com- 
promitting, in the smallest degree, his political ho- 
nour. La Fayette had ever been the true and steady 
friend of genuine liberty ; and the worthless few who 
attempted to defeat his generous purposes, disgraced 
themselves for ever, by their frantic attack upon his 
character and conduct. In the same way Dumouriez 



LA FAYETTE. 22*3 

was subsequently put down by Bureau de Puzy,* 
and was reduced to a state of silent humiliation, from 
which he never afterw-ards recovered. 

The greater part of the first authors of the French 
revolution, as the notables, the members of the con- 
stituent and legislative assembly, the nobility, and 
the officers of the array, had either gone into volun- 
tary exile, or had died, or had perished on the scaf- 
fold. All that remained of worth or virtue in France, 
was now confined to the army. Honest men were 
thus deprived of all political influence whatever 5 
and of course, incapable, with the best intentions, of 
rendering essential service to General La Fayette 
or his companions in misfortune. 

The Directory system was an incongruous mix- 
ture of tyranny, imbecility, solemn pretension, and 
barefaced corruption. Among its members were 
found very few of the friends of political order 
and genuine liberty ; and these few, among whom 
were Carnot and Barthelemy, were expelled, per- 
secuted, or arrested. The great majority of the 
members were bhndly led by a few artful intriguers^ 
such as Barras, Rewbel, and La Reveillere Lepaux« 
It is not at all suprising, then, that neither the 

"^^ Tlie reader is referred to the memoirs of Dumouriez and thp 
reply of Bureau de Puzy. Of these, the former made a violent 
attack upon General La Tayette, which de Puzyj:efuted shertly 
after his liberation fxoipn Olmutz, 



224 MEMOIRS OP 

Convention, the committee of eleven, nor the Di- 
rectory seemed inclined to attempt the liberation of 
La Fayette, the friend of order and of the people's 
rights ; a man who could have efiected an entire 
change in the Directory, vrhich had now lost the 
confidence of all good men ; a man who had still 
many thousands of friends, who would not hesitate 
to rally around him as soon as he returned; a man 
who, in short, could, at a word, have humbled to the 
dust these worthless pretenders, who had incurred 
general dissatisfaction at home, and universal con- 
tempt and abhorrence abroad. 

The Directory had reason to apprehend the in- 
fluence which the probity and purity of La Fayette 
might command : and a system governed by a sin- 
cere regard to the public welfare, was not one which 
suited the views or dispositions of men like Barras, 
Reubel,and LaReveillere Lepaux. All these circum- 
stances combined to prevent the influential men of 
France from interposing in behalf of the prisoners; 
and when they were addressed on the subject, they 
usually replied, that as soon as public business al- 
lowed it, the affair should receive their serious con- 
sideration. But, they added, the vicissitudes of the 
war, the pay and support of their numerous armies^ 
the constant movements of the troops, along with the 
dissentions, conspiracies, and insurrections in the in- 
terior of ihq republic, so wholly engrossed their timie 



LA PAYETTE. 225 

and attention, that they really could not consult the 
private interests of three individuals, while they had 
so many millions to watch, to guide, and to protect. 
Yet who is ignorant of the infamous misuse thi> tri- 
umvirate made of the time they affected to estimate 
so high!}- ; and who does not know how ready they 
were to exchange the daughter of Louis XVI. for 
men every way inferior to the three prisoners at Ol- 
mutz. 

That which no consideration of justice nor of 
equity could effect, was accomplished in consequence 
of a distant relationship existing between Barras, the 
President of the Directory, and the late Intendant 
of the Isle of France, generally known by the name 
of M. Poivre, (Mr. Pepper,) because he was the first 
who introduced the pepper tree into the islands be- 
longing to France. This gentleman was the father 
of Madame Bureau de Puzy, and at his death left 
her a very considerable fortune. His widow subse- 
quently married M. Dupont de Nemours,* well 
known as an author and a politician, who by this 
connexion, became the father-in-law of the man of 
whom he was formerly the colleague and the friend. 

M. Dupont de Nemours reminded the all-power- 

*M. Dupont de Nemours is a man of great intelligence and ta- 
lents, an3 was a member of the constituent Assembly, over which he, 
at one time, presided. He is also the author of a very curious 
treatise on the language of birds, which contaios many philosophi- 
cal speculations, altogether original. 



226 MEMOIRS OF 

ful Director of the ties of consanguinity, which con- 
nected his wife with the Barras family, and urged 
the necessity of doing, as cous r? of Madame de 
Puzy, what he could not or w^ aid not do, in his 
civil or political capacity. Barras was not unaware 
that both in Paris and in the departments, the situa- 
tion of the Olmutz prisoners, was a frequent subject of 
conversation, and that the noble reply of Madame 
de la Fayette to the Governor, was particularly ad- 
mired. He knew that great astonishment had been 
frequently expressed, that the Directory had hitherto 
made no serious attempt to redemand the prisoners, 
and that some of the members had replied to those 
who urged the interference of government, that 
nothing could be done to assist them, because their 
names were down on the list of the emigrants ! A 
most absurd and disgraceful evasion ! 

These murmurs, which were carefully reported by 
the police to the Directory, combined with the re- 
lationship of Barras with Madame de Puzy, indu- 
ced the president to grant that lady a particular 
and private audience, in which she received the 
most positive assurances, that some attempt should 
be made in favour of the prisoners. Barras, who 
was by no means destitute of generous sympathies^ 
treated Madame de Puzy with great kindness 5 and 
she returned to communicate the good news to 
Madame de Maubourg^ so that now for a tiroej 



LA FAYETTE. 227 

they cherished the pleasing hope, that their husbands 
would shortly be restored to their arms. 

Not long after this, (tov\ards the end of the year 
1796,) the Directory issued orders to Generals Bo- 
naparte and Moreau, to seize the first favourable 
opportunity to claim the three prisoners at the hand 
of the Austrian emperor. 

We must now inform the reader, what in the 
mean time occured to the staff officers, aids de camp, 
and the other friends of General La Fayette. In 
the ninth chapter we mentioned that twenty-three 
officers left the camp with the General, supposing 
that his object was to reconnoitre the enemy's posts. 
Among those who insisted upon sharing his misfor- 
tune, were Messrs. Auguste Masson, Victor Latour 
Maubourg, Rene Pillet, and Charles Cadignan, who, 
when Messrs. la Fayette, Maubourg, Puzy, and Alex- 
andre Lameth, were delivered into the hands of the 
Prussians, and conducted to Wesel, were unable to 
obtain permission to follow their General. On the 
contrary, they were shortly after taken to Namur, 
and there confined in chains. As no plausible 
charge was ever alleged against them, they were 
finally released, after being deprived of their watch- 
es, their money, their horses, and of every thing 
valuable about them. Their names had been insert- 
ed by the government on the list of the emigrants ; 
'their property sequestrated, and their families 



228 MEMOIRS OF 

thrown into prison. Under these circumstances, 
reduced to absolute indigence, without even the hope 
of obtaining the smallest assistance from France, 
each of them was forced to rely upon his own un- 
assisted exertions. To the honour of these officers 
be it said, that not one of them would serve under 
Conde, nor against their country in any other shape 
whatever, although that country had treated them 
with great severity, although they were suffering in 
poverty and distress, and had never engaged in any 
other occupation than the profession of arms. They 
steadily refused from such a quarter, every proposi- 
tion of active service, although accompanied by 
very advantageous conditions ; a proof, that Gene- 
ral La Fayette had made a selection of staff officers, 
in all respects worthy of himself 

M. Auguste Masson, after having gone first to 
England, established himself in business at Ham- 
burgh ; but as the military spirit, in which he had 
beeii educated, and his frank and liberal character, 
but ill accorded with the cold and narrow minded 
calculations of commerce, he preferred the proposal 
which had been made to him by M. Rame,* an old 
friend of both himself and General La Fayette, to 
erect an establishment at Hamburgh, for the pur- 

* With Mr. Rarne, who is now at Antwerp, I was very well ac- 
quainted. He afterwards built the great Exchange at Hamburg, 
known by the name of the Borsenhalle, (Exchange Hall.) 



LA FAYETTE. 229 

pose of furnishing the interior of houses in a new 
and magnificent style. M. Rame was the fashiona- 
ble architect ; and as about this time (1795 and 96) 
Hamburgh became a very opulent city, from the 
ample commerce it enjoyed, the inhabitants began 
to indulge in a display of almost Asiatic luxury. 
Many of them built country seats, which vied in 
splendour with the palaces of kings, and were su° 
perbly furnished by M. Masson, while the archi- 
tecture was directed by M. Rame. Their house 
(for they lived together) was the rendezvous of the 
friends and relatives of General La Fayette. Here 
the ci-devant Duke de Lusignan, one of the de- 
scendants of the King of Jerusalem, whom La 
Fayette, his cousin, used frequently in sport, to ad= 
dress with the title of your Majesty,* gave an ac- 
count of the number of waistcoats he had sold in the 
course of the day. Here the former physician of 
General La Fayette, Dr. Regnault, told us the names 
of all the pretty women, whose pulses he had feltj 
for the Doctor was a fine looking man, dressed with 
great elegance and taste, kept a magnificent equipage^ 
and could often say sprightly and always agreeable 
things. He cured his patients, principally, by hi s lively 
sallies, and pleasant anecdotes ; which in a short 

* The Duke de Lusignan, was a lineal desceudant of the famous 
Lusignan, who in the lime of the crusades was created King oC/e° 
ru'sibm aA£l Palestine. 

20 



230 MEMOIRS OF 

time brought liim so greatly into vogue that the 
ladies of Hamburgh would never believe that their 
colds were radically cured, until the French doctor 
had seen them. The greater part of the physicians 
of the place were undoubtedly very able men, but 
too grave and phlegmatic ; and of course, could not 
suit a young and pretty woman, as well as Dr. 
Regnault. He died many years ago, and I owe it 
to his memory to say, that he was sincerely attached 
to General La Fayette, had an excellent heart, and 
rendered very considerable services to many of his 
emigrant fellow citizens, whom he frequently rescued 
from the very depths of misery. 

M. Masson was intimately acquainted with a 
Prussian captain, who had retired from service after 
the seven years' war, in which he received several 
wounds, which lamed him for life. This was M. 
Augusted'ArchenholtZj Knight of the Prussian mili- 
tary order of the Cross of merit, founded by Frederic 
n. to reward such as had particularly distinguished 
themselves in the seven years' war. Archenholtz 
was a German and a celebrated author ;* and re- 

* M. d'Archenboltz died in Hamburg. He wrote a work which gives 
him great celebrity, entitled England and Italyy hy Captain A. M. 
d''Jlrchenholis. It is a highly interesting book, written in a very 
agreeable style ; but his partiality was so great, that he applauded 
to the skies whatever England was any way concerned in, and in 
the same degree decried and undervalued Italy and her inhabitants. 
This prejudice was so strong, that I could not help availing myself 



LA FAYETTE. f 231 

sUled for a long time in Berlin, where I first made 
his acquaintance. In his Minerva, he published a 
great variety of independent and well written arti- 
cles, on different political subjects. In this journal, 
he attacked the dark and dangerous policy of the 
mysterious TVoIner, who, during the reign of the 
feeble Frederic William II. King of Prussia, and 
successor to the great Frederic, contrived by in- 
trigue, and sycophantic subserviency, and particu- 
larly by means of the protection of William's mis- 
tress, the notorious Countess of Lichtenau, to rise 

of my acquaintance with the author, so far as to tell him that he 
had made Eugland a paradise and Italy a hell — Englishmen angels 
and Italians devils. He laughed heartily at the observation, and 
acknowledged its force ; but made no alteration in the subsequent 
editions, which succeeded each other with great rapidity in Ger- 
many. This work has been translated into English, French, Ita- 
lian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish^ Polish, and Russian, and produced 
a very great sensation. He published afterwards the British An- 
nals, a very voluminous, but interesting work, the Life ofGustavus 
Adolplius, King of Sweden, a succinct and very interesting history 
of the seven years' ivar^ and a political and literary monthly Jour- 
iral called the Minerva, which enjoyed a very large subscription. 
M. d'Archenlroltz was one of the few who grow rich on the profits 
of literature ; for he owned a very handsome house in Hamburg, 
lived in great elegance, and had besides considerable funds in the 
Hamburg bank. 

His wounds, and his sedentary life, reduced him to such a feeble 
state of health, that he was almost always obliged to ride in his car 
riage, and to support himself by the most nutritious broths and roast 
meat cut up into ver}' small slices. I was one day present when 
he had nearly died in consequence of swallowing a mouthful ratlrer 
larger than usual. 



232 MEMOIRS OP 

from the station of schoolmaster, in an obscure vil« 
lage of Brandeburg, to the elevated rank of minis- 
ter of state, and favourite of his sovereign the King. 
The Prussians will, for a long time, remember this 
man, for the inveterate rancour with which he per- 
secuted many highly deserving and respectable men. 
In consequence of the independent tone of his 
journal, Captain d'Archenholtz was compelled to 
take refuge in the free Hanseatic town of Hamburg, 
where the liberty of the press was under fewer re- 
straints than any where else in Germany. In 
March, 1793, while General La Fayette was a pri- 
soner in Magdeburg, he found means to convey to 
him a long and interesting article in the Minerva 
in favour of the prisoners. As Archenholtz had 
talents and information, and as his principles were 
liberal and patriotic, he was so indignant at the 
treatment which General La Fayette and his com- 
panions were made to undergo, that he denounced 
at the same time, the party who had proscribed 
him and the royal coalition which exercised its 
vengeance on him and his friends. La Fayette re- 
ceived the number safely, and found an opportunity 
tQ express his acknowledgments to the author, in a 
very handsome letter in reply, but too long for us 
to insert.* It is addressed to the Chevalier d'Arch- 

* We engage to furnish our readers with a translation of this 
lettel in a second edition, if this meets with the reception we ven- 



LA FAYETTE. 233 

eiiholtz, and dated Magdeburg, 27th March, 1793. 
Among other things, the General observeds, " Since 
my captivity, but one political paper has reached 
my hands, yours for the month of February. I 
appreciate with deep sensibility, the justice you 
render my sentiments, and the approbation you be- 
stow upon my conduct. Your commendations are 
greatly beyond my deserts, but your kind exagge- 
rations contain, at this moment, something so gen- 
erous, that I cannot withhold from you my thanks, 
that you have enabled me to hear the voice of liber- 
ty honouring my tomb. 

" My situation is peculiarly strange. I ha'd sa- 
crificed my republican partialities to the circum- 
stances and wishes of the nation ; I obeyed the sove^ 
reign power where I found it vested — in the con- 
stitution. My popularity was as great as I could 
desire, for the legislative body protected me better 
on the 8th of August, than it defended itself on the 
10th 5 but I became obnoxious to the Jacobins, 
because I reprobated their aristocracy, which aimed 
at usurping all legitimate authority. 

" From Constantinople to Lisbon, from Kam- 
5tchatka to Amsterdam, (for I am unpopular with the 
lijDUse of Orange,) every Bastile is ready to receive 
me. The Huron and Iioquois forests are peopled 

ture to anticipate. We have been sufficiently fortuli&te toobtciin 
a copy from an unquestionable source. 

20* 



-] 



2S4 MEMOIRS OF 

with my friends ; the despots and the courts of 
Europe — they are the only savages I fear ! I am 
aware, that although the court of St. James is op- 
posed to me, yet the laws of England would protect 
me ; but I cannot seek a country at war with my 
.own. America, the country of my heart, would wel- 
come me with joy. Yet my feare for the future 
destinies of France, induce me to give the preference 
to Switzerland, at least, for a time." 

Archenholtz, whose conduct has been represented 
in a variety of colours, for he had a great number of 
enemies, possessed, in fact, many excellent qualities, 
as I can state from my personal acquaintance with 
him. He was a man ever ready to render services, 
the uniform advocate of republican and liberal prin- 
ciples, an ardent and generous friend, and an enthu- 
siastic admirer of General La Fayette, whom, never- 
ttieless, he had not hitherto known. 

His political essays were couched in language so 
eloquent and so bold, that many complaints were 
made on the part of the Ministers of Austria and 
Prussia, to the Senate of Hamburg, who, with 
great propriety, observed the usual formalities* 

* When an author or bookseller who was a citizen of Hamburg^ 
had roused the resentment of any of the diplomatists who re^-* 
ded in that town, he was summoned to appear before the Praetor, 
and there he was informed, that such a person had lodged a com- 
plaint against him in the Senatei in the name of his sovereign ; anci 
tUsi) in consequence of fhis complaint, tlie Praetor Was called upT)n 



LA FAYETTE. 235 

against him, and then assured the whole fraternity 
of ministerial slaves, that M. d'Archenholtz would 
moderate his style; whereas, in a few months after, 
he^ began to speak and to write with more freedom 
than before. 

General La Fayette and his companions in mis- 
fortune, had the highest esteem for Captain d'Ar- 
chenholtz, who was the first German who interested 
himself in their situation, and who proved himself, at 
all times, their faithful friend. He was equally mine, 
for it was through his intervention that I was enabled 
to. enjoy the honour of contributing to the enlarge- 
ment of General La Fayette, Latour Maubourg, and 
Bureau de Puzy. He died some years since at Ham:- 
burg, sincerely regretted by us all,* 

40 request the author to moderate bis language, and not expose tlie 
Senate to disagreeable involvements. The Senate then officially 
informed the diplomatist, that the offender had appeared before the 
Praetor, and had been told of the complaint which had beeu lodged 
against him, and thus ended the farce. 

There are some instances in which writings too free have been 
confiscated : but as, about this time, the liberty of the press was sa- 
cred at Hamburg, the whole edition could seldom or never be seized. 
The Senate was wisely satisfied with seizing a few copies, and sent 
them to the Minister who had made the complAint, to give him at 
least the shadow of satisfaction. The edition then sold with in- 
creased rapidity. 

^ I make use of this expression, us all, because it was the fa*- 
vourite one of Madame de la Fayette, whenever she meant to de- 
"signate her family, including MesSrS. Maut>ourg-, Puzy, M^sson> 



2S6 MEMOIRS OF 

La Fayette had, besides, other distinguished friends 
at Hamburg; and among these, Mr. John Parish, 
the American Consul; the American Colonel Morris: 
M. Reinhardt, the French Minister, who had married 
a daughter of Dr. Reimarus, and sister of the wife 
of Sieveking, the merchant of whom we have already 
spoken; Mr. David Schuchmacher, a very respecta- 
ble and very liberal merchant ; Mr. Henry Haupt ; 
Drs. Lappenberg and ChaufTopie ; M. d'Abbemar. 
Minister of the Batavian republic ; Kerner and 
Reinholdt, the French and Batavian secretaries -of 
legation; with a great many others, distinguished 
for their talents, wealth, and liberal opinions. 

Many celebrated writers in Germany, have written 
pamphlets innumerable in favour of General La 
Fayette, which always afford me the greatest plea- 
sure in their perusal. The consequence of this has 
been, that the General possesses, as I can assure my 
readers, even in the obscurest villages of Austria, 
warm and faithful friends. Of this I shall give abun- 
dant evidence. 

In December, 1795, I was at Hamburg, at the 
house of Captain d'Archenholtz. He spoke to me, 
Tvith great warmth and feeling, respecting the melan- 

Eillet, RomoeufF, and myself. She has told me a thousand timeS; 
with the most flattering demonstrations of kindness, that I had 
acquired rights which made me part oC the family. General La 
Fayette never called me otherwise than his friend Feldmann, and 
under this title he has introduced me to many persons during Ris 
- je€£ut sfay in New-York. 



LA FAYETTE. 237 

clioly situation of the prisoners, and asked me if I 
was inclined to do any thing to assist them. I eagerly 
embraced the proposal, and told him that no considera- 
tion should restrain me, and that I was ready to make 
every attempt to release them from their barbarous 
imprisonment. 

Messrs. John Parish, Archenholtz, and Masson. 
in their frequent consultations together, watched 
with great zeal and solicitude the tortuous progress 
of the secret negotiations of the English and French 
diplomatists, to see when La Fayette and his com- 
panions became the subject of discussion. These 
three gentlemen were very well acquainted with se- 
veral members of the British Parliament, and with 
persons initiated into the mysteries of the quintuple 
cabinet of the Luxembourg at Paris. But their in- 
quiries left them not the smallest shadow of hope. 
Promises had been frequently made, but made only 
to be violated.* These three gentlemen then ad- 
mitted several others into their views, and it was re* 
solved to despatch secretly an agent to Olmutz, to 
ascertain precisely the situation of the prisoners, and 

* The Director Barras, in consequence of his relationship with 
Madame de Puzy, had set on foot several negotiations at the cabi- 
net of Vienna, to bring about the liberation of Mr. Bureau de Puzy, 
separately from the rest. This gentleman, however, constantly 
refused to leave his prison, unless his two friends were comprised in 
the order for his enlargement; and, in fact, he remained with them 
until they were finally liberated together, upwards of a year subse- 
quent to this event. 



23B MEMOlIiS OF 

to inform them of the intentions of their friends, in 
Order to act with more prospect of success, and, if 
possible, to effect their escape from confinement. 
But the difficulty was, to find a person of confidence 
and courage, probity and prudence enough, to qualify 
him for a mission so important. It was necessary, 
besides, that he should be able to speak German per- 
fectly well, in order to avoid all possible suspicion. 

Several persons were successively proposed, but 
there was always found something to object to ; and 
the parties agreed to use their separate efforts to find 
the man who possessed the requisite qualifications. 

The conversation which passed between Captain 
d'Archenholtz and myself instantaneously suggested 
to his mind that I was the man they wanted. As he 
knew me thoroughly, he could easily vouch for my 
fitness and fidelity. I obtained the suffrages of all,, 
and immediately prepared to set out. As I had 
already procured a furlough on account of my healthy 
and as I was engaged in the service of the republic, 
rather as a volunteer than as lieutenant colonel with 
pay> I knew that I could easily obtain an extension 
of the term from the minister of war. I wrote ac- 
cordingly, and left the arrangement of this business 
to my friends at Paris, telling them that family affairs 
of great urgency, would probably detain me a longer 
time in Holstein than I myself desired. 

I had then several very long conferences with 
Messrs. D'Archenholtz, Masson, and Sieveking. 



LA FAYETTE. 2S9 

Having provided myself with a large packet of im- 
portant despatches, money, bills of exchange, and 
letters of credit, to the amount of 200,000 Austrian 
florins, I set out from Hamburg in March, 1796. I 
had purchased a very elegant berlin, and my servant 
was feithful, clever, and discreet. My carriage was 
full of secret places, in which I concealed my nume- 
rous papers, my gold, my bills of exchange, and let- 
ters of credit ; and John, who had served me from an 
early age, was initiated into all these mysteries, in 
order that he might be able to assist me in case of 
necessity. 

But it was essentially requisite for me to change my 
costume and my name, because mine was too generally 
known throughout Germany. Sieveking and Archen- 
holtz advised me to pass for a Swede, to assume another 
name and a title. They thought, that with these pre- 
cautions, with a thorough knowledge of German, and 
something of Swedish, I would be able to extricate 
myself from any occasional dilemma. Captain d'Ar- 
chenholtz took me the next day to the house of his 
friend, the Baron de Nordenskoldt, secretary of the 
Swedish legation. After speaking a few words in 
private, which, Archenholtz afterwards told me, rela- 
ted to my pretended business in Austria and Silesia, 
the Baron asked me to leave my name, place of birth, 
age, (fee. and added, that he would prepare my pass- 
port in the course of that day, and send it to me, sign- 
ed by Mr, Claas Peyron, the Swedish Minister, who 



240 MEMOIRS OF 

was at that time at Hamburg. I had previously se- 
lected my fictitious name, and was accordingly meta- 
morphosed into a Swedish merchant, of the name of 
Peter Feldmann. 

I armed myself and my servant with sabres, pistols 
and dirks, and took leave of my friends, after settling 
upon a plan of secret correspondence, with an entire 
change of names. I travelled night and day, as my 
instructions, and the information of which I was the 
bearer, were of the utmost importance to the prison- 
ers. I thus passed rapidly through Leipsic, Dres- 
den, Bautzen, to the frontiers of Bohemia, where the 
Austrian custom houses were situated, on a high 
mountain, in a little village called Peterswald. I ar- 
rived at this place about 8 A. M. and was obliged to 
submit to a very strict search : the keys were then de- 
manded of my trunk, which was strapped and chain- 
ed fast to the carriage. I handed them to John, and 
was about composing myself to sleep, being excessive- 
ly fatigued, when I was roused by a dispute between 
my servant and the officers, about some meat and 
chocolate, which they declared to be prohibited, 
while my servant, who was a German, contradicted 
them stoutly. I soon settled the dispute by a pre- 
sent of a few" florins to the principal officer, stating that 
the chocolate was medicated, by order of my physi- 
cian, for my own use. My money had the ^esired 



LA FAYETTE. 241 

effect ; for no soonor did he see the siehzehners, (Aus- 
trian coins, each of the vakie of two thirds of a florin, 
as near as I remember) in his own hand, than he or- 
dered all things to be replaced, and very respectful- 
ly wished me a pleasant journey. I now directed my 
servant to obviate all delays by seasonable presents, 
which plan was followed with the desired effect. 
When we arrived at Kreutsnitz, the seals of the cus- 
tom-house were attached to my trunks, without my 
servant's perceiving it. At the next stage, I wished 
to open one of my trunlfs, and saw with great sur- 
prise that the emperor's double-headed eagle was at- 
tached to the whole of my baggage. I ordered John, 
notwithstanding, to tear off the seal and open the 
trunk. About two hours after, I again changed hor- 
ses : what was my surprise at beholding an excise of- 
ficer examining the broken seals, and crying out like 
a madman that I was smuggling goods into the territo- 
ries of his Majesty, the emperor and king, and that he 
would accuse the man who had dared to violate the 
sacred characters of the imperial seal. John gave 
him two gold ducats, and told him that some vaga- 
bond rascal must have committed the enormity, 
whereupon my gentleman was perfectly satisfied. 

The following pleasant adventure occurred to me 
in the course of the journey. T arrived at six o'clock 
in the evening at Hohenmauth, and as I always had 
a courier before me to prepare horses, Sic, I often 

slept m the carriage while the horses were changed. 

21 



242 MEMOIRS OF 

That evening my servant waked me, to say that the 
post master wished me to alight, as he had a word 
to say to me privately. I complied, and was hastily 
led by him into a handsome apartment. He begged 
me to remain with him during the night, as the road 
was infested with robbers ; and then opening a 
window, he pointed to a crowd which was assem- 
bled at a neighbouring tavern, into which had been 
conveyed shortly before, the village surgeon, {Kreis- 
physikus,) shockingly wounded by highwaymen, 
by whom he had been stripped of all his property. 
The post master seized me by the hands, and con- 
jured me earnestly to stay the night with him, add- 
ing, that at daylight, 1 might resume my journey 
with perfect safety. I was still unwilling to consent, 
being so pressed for time, when he introduced me 
into a saloon, where a large company was assem- 
bled ; and, in order to attract my attention, he desired 
his daughter, a young lady of about eighteen, to sing 
and pla}' something to amuse the gentleman, after 
which, I was requested to favour the company with 
a song. This hospitality and kindness pleased nie 
so much, that when I was asked if I would not eat 
something, thinking myself in a tavern, I called out 
lustily for a good supper. The table, which was 
well furnished, was set in the same room. I took 
part in the conversation during the repast, after 
which, I ordered my horses, having remained with 



LA FAYETTE. 243 

them more than an hour. The family pressed me to 
stay, but as that was impossible, I asked the host for 
my bill ; he replied very politely, that he was post- 
master to the Emperor, and did not keep tavern i 
that he had received me with pleasure, as he could 
readily perceive I was a man of high birth, as well 
as a pleasant companion; that he had been delighted 
with my society, and that I owed him nothing what- 
ever. I was a little mortified at the question I had 
asked, and fearful I had unintentionally offended 
him ; so I made the best excuse I could, and quieted 
my conscience by paying his servant. 

He told me, as he conducted me to the carriage, 
that he had taken the precaution to supply me with 
two loaded muskets, and four excellent horses of 
his own, with two postillions, armed with sabres and 
pistols ; that, until I reached a certain hill, all was 
safe, but, beyond that, the road passed through u 
thick forest for three leagues, and that here, the 
robbers, who were deserlers from the Austrian 
array, were concealed in great numbers. When, 
therefore, we reached the hill, I shut up the carriage 
entirely, and placed myself in front, with the servant, 
both completely armed. I ordered him to keep 
watch behind and before and on the left, while I 
took care of the right. The two postillions were 
old dragoons attached to the post, and well armed, 
as I had been told by the post master. I promised 



244 BIEMOIRS OF 

them a ducat a piece, if they kept a sharp look out. 
The moon now shone upon us, and presented us the 
dismal sight of thick woods, bordering each side of 
the highway. We had travelled scarce half an hour. 
when a whistle was heard behind, and instantly an- 
swered on both sides of us. I called to the postil- 
lions not to be alarmed, but to hurry on. The sig- 
nal whistles were answered in every direction, and 
instantly after we were fired on. Two men now 
crossed the road not a hundred yards before us, but 
perceiving we were all four completely armed, they 
disappeared ; several shots were fired at us, but we 
escaped unhurt. 

When we arrived at Leutomichel, the horses forced 
us past the guard, stationed at the gate of the city 
to examine the passports and baggage of travellers, 
in spite of all our endeavours, and directed their 
course full speed for the post office, where they 
stopped. The carriage was soon surrounded by a 
dozen dragoons, all crying out together, that I 
must go before the commandant of the station, who 
was Major of this regiment. I told the corpo- 
ral of the guard that I was the owner of the carriage, 
and although it was unnecessary to stop me, yet I 
would go with him directly to the house of the com- 
mandant. He now grew particularly polite, and 
sending away the guard, conducted me to the house 
of the Major, who had just gone to bedj and was 



LA FAYETTE. 245 

very angry at being awaked so unseasonably. He 
asked me roughly who I was, and how I had the au- 
dacity to interrupt his slumbers, accompanying his 
words with the most horrible execrations. I quiet- 
ly told him what had occurred to me, how I had 
come, and after he had read my passport, he made 
a thousand apologies, and instantly sent a company 
of dragoons, as I advised, into the wood in which I 
had been attacked, where they apprehended thr°e 
of the robbers, as I afterwards learned. 

My readers will recollect what occurred at Prague, 
with the president of the police.* I afterwards 
learned the following particulars, which will serve to 
explain the affair. 

The French minister at Hamburg, Mr. Reinhardt, 
had invited me to dine with a private company, with 
Mr. Sieveking, his brother-in-law, a few days after 
I had agreed to the proposition of Captain d'Archen- 
holtz, to take charge of the mission to Olmutz. This 
was made the subject of conversation at the table, 
and Mr. Sieveking advised me to change my name, 
dress, Sic. A number of servants were present, and 
one of them informed the Austrian minister, JBaron 
de Buel Schauenstein, that a French Colonel was 
about to set off, under disguise, for Olmutz. It ap- 
peared, however, that no regard was paid to this in- 

* Chapter xii. 
21^ 



246 MEMOIRS OF 

formation by this minister, otherwise I certainly 
should have been stopped at Peterswalde, Aussig, and 
at the other towns on the frontiers, wherever the 
agents and officers of the police were established, 
and nothing short of a miracle could have saved me. 
Another imprudent act of one of our friends, whom 
f do not wish to name, as he is still living, had near- 
ly ruined us. As soon as 1 had consented to under- 
take the mission to Olmutz, proposed by Mr. d'Ar- 
chenholtz, he informed the committee ; and so anxious 
was this friend to give the prisoners information of the 
fact, through Messrs. Hirsch and Passy, that he con- 
trived the following plan, as the most probable means 
of conveying a letter to them, with information of 
my intended arrival. He bought a German bible, 
liad it superbly bound, and concealed within the 
binding of the cover a letter, addressed to Mr. Gil- 
bert, without any signature, and enclosed the whole^ 
first in paper, then in a pasteboard, and finally a 
tarpaulin, and addressed it to Mr. Hirsch, banker, at 
Olmutz. He then put it under the special charge 
of the driver of a diligence, which was going to Ha- 
nover, with directions to deliver it in charge of the 
person who relieved him, and so on to the person to 
whom it was. addressed. The packet arrived thus 
at the frontier which divides Lusace from Bohemia^ 
at Peterswalde, the place which I passed through six 
weeks, after» This same friend addressed a letjiex t© 



LA FAYETTE. 24T 

liJr. Hirsch, by mail, stating that he had forwarded 

an uncommonly valuable bible to certain friends. 
As soon as the driver of the diligence informed the 
agent of the police, and the excise officer, at Peters- 
walde, that the package contained a bible, they 
thought it their duty to intercept it ; they therefore 
carried it to the president of the police, at Prague^ 
for condemnation, under the decree, forbidding wick- 
ed and philosophical books to be introduced into 
Austria. This decree of his imperial majesty is sin- 
gularly expressive. It reads as follows : 

" In order that seditious and philosophical opinions 
may not enter our empire, to trouble and annoy our 
faithful subjects ; in order that the infamous jacobin- 
ism, and the murderous and execrable doctrines, 
promulgated by the assassins of the King of France, 
may not find their way into our peaceful dominions, 
we decree," &;c. 

When the packet was opened by the police of 
Prague, a very visible elevation was discovered in 
one of the covers, which awakening suspicion, it was 
further examined, and the letter discovered, written 
in Enghsh, and addressed to Mr. Gilbert, (General 
La Fayette,) which stated that a French officer, 
a friend of the prisoners, was about to come, and 
render them a very great service. The bible, we 
have already observed, was addressed to Mr. Hirsch, 
-and the letter, intended for La Fayette, directed 



248 MEMOIRS OF 

"To Madame Gilbert. ^^ 1 have mentioned that 
we had adopted fictitious names and terms, in order 
to correspond with our friends at Hamburg and 
Paris, in a mercantile style, at the same time that 
out letters conveyed the requisite information to 
those possessed of the key to their contents. Thus, 
General La Fayette and lady were called Mr, and 
Mrs. Gilbert, their daughters the pearls ; Louis La- 
tour Maubourg, Mr. Kant ; Puzy, Mr. West 5 Hirsch, 
La Fleur, &:c. &;c. 

The following letter is one I had occasion to 
write to Hamburg, and will serve as a specimen: 
" I have received advices from the Gilberts, who di- 
rect me to hold their pearls till further notice. 
Messrs. Kant and West were obliged to leave their 
merchandise* behind, and were very uneasy until I 
informed them of its safe arrival at their counting 
rooms. Our friends. La Fleur, Passy, 8zc, are very 
active, and afford me great assistance in the disposal 
of the merchandise, which you have consigned to an 
excellent market, &;c." 

Such letters, which contained all necessary infor- 
mation, never could excite the least suspicion. Ac- 
cordingly, though frequently opened, they were re- 
sealed and forwarded to the person addressed, who 
'was Captain d'Archenhoitz, under the assumed name 
of Mr. John Bitter, Merchant, Hamburg. I also 

* Their families. 



LA FAYETTE. 249 

wrote direct to Messrs. Sieveking &: Schuchmacher, 
Hirsch wrote by the same means, and our letters 
were never intercepted, nor did they excite the least 
suspicion. The police where the bible and letter 
were discovered, sent the whole to the president of 
the police at Olmutz, with directions to watch Mr* 
Hirsch in this affair. Fortunately Mr. Hirsch was a 
man universally respected, and moreover an intimate 
friend of the president's. He pretended violent re- 
sentment at such unworthy suspicions, and boldly 
accused the president at Prague of a conspiracy 
against his honour and reputation, said the whole 
was a wicked forgery got up to ruin him, and that he 
would go directly to Vienna, and complain personally 
to his majesty. He talked so loudly and successful- 
ly, that the president took great pains to pacify himj 
being fully persuaded that the whole was the result 
of malevolence ; and thus the affair was hushed up. 
On my arrival, as a stranger direct from Hamburg, 
six weeks after this circumstance had transpired, of 
which I knew not a syllable, the suspicions of the 
president revived •, but the reader has seen how, by 
means of Mr. Sieveking's foresight, I was enabled 
to extricate myself from this difficulty. 



CHAPTER XV. 



Arrival of the author at Olmutz. His conespondence 
with Madame de la Fayette. Some remarks on the friends 
of the prisoners in Olmutz, Hirsch, Passy, Kreutschke, 
and Maquelico. Interview of the author with these gen- 
tlemen. Ancedotes entirely new. Excursion to Braun- 
seifen and Eulenberg. Return to Olmutz. 

On arriving at the gates of the town of Olmutz, 
the officer of the guard subjected me to a more ri- 
gorous examination than I experienced at Prague. 
But seeing that my papers were perfectly accurate, 
and convinced above all by the sight of my brilliant 
equipage, he was satisfied with retaining my pass- 
port, dispensed with my going in person to the 
police, and treated me in all respects with marked 
civility. On arriving at the Three Swans, 1 was 
immediately surrounded by a crowd of inquisitive 
spectators, amongst whom I suspected there might 
be some spies of the police ; and in order to get rid 
of their disagreeable society, I sent a messenger to 
the banker Hirsch, requesting him to come and 
receive an old and faithful friend, who was impatient 



MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETTE. 251 

to embrace him. The banker, greatly astonished, 
knowing nothing of my arrival, nor even that I 
meant to come, inquired of the servant, whom I 
had hired according to the custom of all strangers 
of distinction who travel in Germany, what was my 
name, and former place of residence ; to this the 
servant replied, that I was a Baron ; but that he 
did not know my name. Hirsch, who had a great 
deal of presence of mind, and who, as he afterwards 
told me, thought it probable, that this request was, 
in some way, connected with the interests of the 
prisoners, asked no further questions, but imme- 
diately repaired to the hotel. I had taken a suite of 
three handsome apartments, of which the two first 
were left open, and the third which I occupied re- 
mained shut until the arrival of Hirsch, who was 
followed by my servants and the landlord. As 
soon as the banker was announced, I hastened to 
meet him, and embraced him with feelings of the 
liveliest gratitude for what he had already done for 
the prisoners, and of which I had been previously 
informed at Hamburg. At the same time I whis- 
pered in his ear, " I am Feldmann, the friend of GiU 
bert — embrace me as you would an old acquain- 
tance !" This was but the affair of an instant ; and 
Hirsch, who immediately comprehended me, per- 
formed his part so well, that the spies were deceived, 
and imagined that we were really old and intimate 



252 MEMOIRS o-e 

friends. The landlord very respectfully desired to 
to know my commands, and I requested him to 
bring us some seltzer water, and sugar, with a bot- 
tle of the best Rhenish in his cellar, and afterwards 
to prepare a good supper for myself and niy friend 
Hirsch, who agreed to remain with me, as I was too 
much fatigued to go out. Being now left alone 
with him, I handed him the slip of paper from Sieve- 
king, of which I have already spoken ; and confi- 
dence and friendship were speedily established be- 
tween us. At supper, we arranged what account 
we were to give to those who might inquire, with 
respect to our old acquaintanceship, and connexion 
in business. It was determined that I should pass 
for a rich merchant of Stockholm, who had been 
educated in Germany, and who was travelling part- 
ly for pleasure and partly to settle business of con- 
sequence with the house of Hirsch and others. 

He then made me favourable representations of 
Passy and Kreutschke, and told me that M. and Ma- 
dame de la Fayette aad their children, as well as the 
other prisoners, were in tolerable health, and would 
be delighted to hear of my arrival, particularly 
Madame de la Fayette, who was in very low spirits, 
in consequence of not having heard, for some time 
past, of her son George, then in America, or ofany 
of her friends who were abroad. I then told him, 
that I was the beareF of large packets both from 



LA FAYETTE. 253 

America and from France, which contained infor- 
mation of the utmost importance to them, but that 
they were stowed away in the hiding places of my 
berlin, from which I could not procure them until 
the next day, because the carriage had been imme- 
diately sent to the coach-house. He then asked me 
if I could not give him a short note to send to 
the prisoners the news of my arrival and my designs, 
which ihe would send the next morning to the sur- 
geon : I accordingly wrote the following commu- 
nication. " An old and true friend of your family? 
my dear General, and of your companions in misfor- 
tune, is just arrived within the walls of Olmutz. He 
is impatient to hear from you, and will contrive to 
put into your possession letters from many of your 
dearest friends, who, as well as your son George, are 
in perfect health. Preserve your courage, and de- 
pend, in all cases, as long as he lives, upon your 
warm and faithful friend. P. Feldmann". 

Having folded and sealed this letter with all pos- 
sible care, I gave it to Hirsch, who promised to con- 
vey it, the following morning, by means of the sur^ 
geon, to Madame de la Fayette, who was not as 
closely watched as her husband. 

The astonishment and joy of the prisoners in re- 
ceiving such a letter, just at a time when they were be- 
ginning to despair, may better be imagined than de- 
scribed. M. and Madame de la Fayette have since 

22 



^54 MEMOIRS OF 

told me, that, as they did not know me under my 
fictitious name, they exhausted themselves in con- 
jecturing who this P. Feldmann could be. 

Madame de la Fayette, whose imagination and 
quickness of comprehension had not suffered in the 
least, notwithstanding her melancholy situation and 
weak state of health, went into her daughters' room 
and wrote me these lines, which will never be effa- 
ced from my memory : " Whosoever you may be. 
my dear, generous Mr. Feldmann, who, in defiance of 
all dangers, have reached our miserable prison, ac- 
cept, I entreat you, our warmest, our sincerest ac- 
knowledgments for all yoti have done. As M. de la 
Fayette has been obliged to give his word not to write 
to any one out of the prison, he regrets exceedingly 
that he is thus deprived of the pleasure of expressing, 
himself, the sensations the receipt ofyour letter crea- 
ted, and has charged me,on the part of himself and his 
daughters, to assure you of our gratitude, and never 
failing attachment. Noailles La Fayette."* 

Madame de la Fayette, on putting her reply into 
the hands of the surgeon, who, while she was pre- 
paring it, was engaged, on some pretence for delay, 

* General La Fayette is with us, and will not only confirm what 
I have stated here, but will assure all who inquire, that in my four 
successive journeys to Olmutz, I received more than thirty letters 
from Madame de la Fayette, written from her prison^ in 1796 and 

1797. 



LA FAYETTE. 255 

\vitli the General, endeavoured to ascertain from the 
doctor, whether this Feldmann was tall or short, 
stout or slender, with other particulars of his exte- 
rior, in order to discover, if possible, who it could 
be ; bat as the doctor had not seen nie yet, he could 
not gratify her curiosity. 

The flute of Felix Pontonnier, who had received 
permission to visit his master, was soon heard by 
Messrs. Latour Maubourg and Bureau de Puzy, 
giving notice of the happy arrival of a friend. Let 
the reader for a moment imagine himself in the situa- 
tion of these unhappy prisoners, and he will easily 
conceive the joy and surprise they experienced. 

Very early in the morning, my faithful servant, 
on pretence of cleaning my carriage, opened the 
coach-house, and got out all the packets, letters, 
money, &;c., without being perceived by any one 
belonging to the house, and brought them safely to 
my chamber. I dined this day, by invitation, with 
Hirsch, where I met several strangers, to whom the 
banker introduced me, as his old and worthy friend 
the Baron de Feldmann.* Kreutschke presently 
arrived with the reply of Madame de la Fayette to 
my note, for Hirsch had told him the particulars and 
purposes of my journey, without letting him know, 
however, exactly who 1 was. 

* Hirsch absolutely insisted upon giving me this ridiculous titlg, 
coQtravy to my republican opinions and engagement?. 



256 MEMOIRS OP 

I leave the reader to conceive my sensatioi# 
on the receipt of this information, and my im- 
patience to read what a lady, whose high and exalted 
virtues I so much revered, had sent me in reply to 
my note. Hirsch gave me the paper secretly, so 
that no one observed him, and told me besides, how 
M. and Madame de la Fayette had interrogated the 
surgeon respecting my exterior, and how curious they 
were to know who this Mr. Feldmann could possibly 
be. Under the pretence of calling a servant, I arose, 
and went into an adjoining room •, where I no sooner 
found myself alone, than, full of impatience and joy,. 
I opened the precious note, and perused and re-pe- 
rused it again and again. I at last endeavoured to 
control my feelings, and concealing the paper with 
the utmost care, I returned to the parlour, and told 
Mr. Hii'sch that it was absolutely necessary for the 
surgeon to devise some pretext for seeing the pri- 
aoners again in the course of that day, adding, that he 
might offer him, from me, a purse of one hundred 
ducats, as a reward for his zeal and fidelity, and as a 
proof that my friends and myself were very well 
satisfied with what he had done.* 

* I believe I have already mentioned that I had full powers^ 
to dispose entirely of the very ample funds of which I was the 
bearer, as well as of those which Hirsch had previously received 
from the generous Americans, through the hands of their consul at 
Hamburg; not directly, but first from Sieveking, at Hamburg, and 
shenfrom the Vienna banlver, Oxs Geymiiller, on whom I Jiad an= 



LA FAYETTE. 257 

On the previous evening, Hirsch and myself had 
agreed on the propriety of my conversing as Uttle as 
possible with the friends of the prisoners whom I 
might meet in public, or at the house of the banker, 
in order to avoid, as much as possible, the suspicions 
of the police. As I spoke German altogether, no- 
body questioned my disguise, and I remained ^4^en 
days at Olmutz, unsuspected and undisturbed. 

The hundred ducats produced their effect. The 
surgeon promised to visit the prisoners along with the 
jailer at two o'clock, the hour when their food was 
given to them, and told Hirsch that I must have all 
my papers in readiness. After breakfast I feigned 
some slight indisposition, the effect, as I pretended, 
of my journey: and, according to my arrangements 
with Hirsch, I went to my lodgings, where I told my 
servants that I intended to shut myself up in my room 
to sleep, and was not at home to any one but Hirsch, 
who would probably call about one o'clock. As my 
packets were too bulky to send all at once, I was 
obliged to divide them into three parcels, and first tp 
prepare the one which was most interesting, in which 
I enclosed my actual name, accompanied by the re- 
quest, that it should not be mentioned in any of the 
letters that Madame de la Fayette might do me the 
honour to write. 



other large letter of credit. These gentlemen wece ^cciDunt^ble t^o. 
me for the fluids in their hands. 

22* 



2oB MEMOIRS OF 

ilirsch knocked at my door at the hour agreed 
upon, and I put into his hands the first of the parcels, 
carefully folded and sealed, but withoutsuperscription. 
In a long letter to Madame de la Fayette, I acquainted 
her with my intention to attempt the rescue of her 
husband, unless I were forbidden by the danger of de- 
stroying herself and her children ; it being impossible 
to carry away the whole four. I assured her, that I was 
resolved to undergo all possible hazards, and only wait- 
ed for their determination to act : but added, that two 
or three days, at least, should be devoted to deliberate 
reflection, before any thing decisive was attempted. 
I then informed her of the mode we had adopted to 
conduct the correspondence, and the fictitious names 
and situations in life of her new friends in Hamburg. 
In this packet I enclosed several sheets of very fine 
paper, with pens and pencils, &;c. &ic^ and added a 
square of excellent chocolate, of which I had provi- 
ded an abundant supply before I set but on my journey. 
This I requested Mr. Hirsch to give to the surgeon, 
for Madame dela Fayette, along with the packet, and 
to tell him that every day he was to send her another. 

Hirsch, at the sight of the packet, drew back a few 
steps with surprise at the size of it. But I soon per- 
suaded him to join his exertions with the surgeon's, to 
effect its conveyance ; advising him, at the same time, 
not to give Kreutschke the hundred ducats until I 
had received a reply from Madame de la Fayette, ac- 
knowledging the safe-reception of the packet with all 



LA FAYETTE. 259 

its contents, as I had described them. The promise 
of the gold, no doubt, quickened the invention and 
zeal of the doctor, who resorted to the following ex- 
pedient. A few minutes before two o'clock he went 
io the house of the jailer, whose wife was preparing 
the prisoners' food. 1 have already said that Kreutsch- 
ke was very much liked by the soldiers and inhab- 
itants generally, on account of his kind disposition, 
and benevolent feelings. When he told the jailer, 
therefore, that he was going to examine personally 
the diet of the prisoners, particularly Madame de la 
Fayette's, and that he wished to ascertain whether her 
appetite had returned, no difficulty was made, and ho 
went in along with the jailer. The officer of the 
guard expressed no surprise at this second visit, for 
the doctor, who knew him intimately, told him the 
same thing he had already told the jailer, and taking 
him apart, he gave him to understand that it was quite 
unnecessary to put down this visit in the daily report 
he made to the Governor, as the officer did not gene- 
rally think it necessary to make a note of his visits. 
He invited him, at the same time, to dine with him 
the next day, and the whole affair was arranged in 
the following manner. 

As the guard stood before the door of La Fayette's 
cell, in the manner described in the tenth chapter, 
there were too many eyes upon the doctor to allow 
him to pass to the General the two packets without 
being perceived ; he therefore, after feeling the puj?es 



26.0 MEMOIRS OF 

of M. and Madame de la Fayette, tin ew his eyes 
around him in all directions, as if to remark the moist- 
ure which every where oozed through the walls of 
their subterraneous prison, and then opened the door 
of an adjoining apartment, which was occupied by 
his daughters ; and v»^hile the jailer was engaged in ar- 
ranging the table, and stood with his back turned to- 
wards them, the surgeon made signs to Madame de la 
Fayette that he was gohig to hide something away for 
her. M. and Madame de la Fayette, who, as well as 
their daughters, began to suspect something unusual, 
watched him unobserved, and followed all his move- 
ments without leaving their places. The guards 
could not possibly perceive what was passing in the 
apartment belonging to the young ladies, Anastasia 
and Virginia La Fayette, for it was on the right hand 
in coming in ; whereas the soldiers stood in the mid- 
dle of the front of the General's prison. 

Kreutschke, now entered the 3^oung ladies' room, 
saying aloud, that he wished to see whether the 
moisture penetrated there, as it did in their father's. 
Then instantly raising the straw bed, he thrust the 
two parcels underneath, and returningintothe Gene- 
ral's prison, he very calmly remarked to the officer 
of the guard, that the young ladies' room was not 
quite so moist as the other, 

Madame de la Fayette, whose sight was as quick 
as her imagination was lively, changed colour on 



l^A PAYETTE. 261 

seeing the doctor's manoeuvres with these two 
packets ; but Kreustchke made signs, and she soon 
recovered her composure. M. de la Fayette and 
his two daughters had observed all that passed, but 
did not so plainly betray their sensations, as Ma- 
dame de la Fayette, whose control, nevertheless, 
over her excitable imagination, cannot be sufficiently 
admired ; particularly, as she was weakened by her 
sufferings, and the violent pains of a rheumatism, 
which, no doubt, occasioned her premature death, so 
deeply lamented by all her acquaintance. In the 
course of the evening, I saw the banker again, and 
he gave me an exact account of the doctor's visit, 
adding, that he would certainly bring me, the next 
day, a letter from Madame de la Fayette. 

In my first journey to Olmutz, I was bearer of let- 
ters and packets of such importance, and which re- 
quired of the prisoners so many precautions, and so 
much time, that I availed myself of two or three 
days' leisure and requested Mr. Hirsch, to take 
me in his carriage to visit the spot where General 
La Fayette bad mounted on horseback behind 
Bollmann, the barn where he was arrested, and 
Braunseiffen, where he was delivered up. This 
journey corresponded perfectly well with the cha- 
racter Mr. Hirsch had given me, of a rich Swedish 
merchant, who visited Austria and Silesia, for the 
purpose of purchasing large quantities of linens, 
and other manufactures of the country, which were 



2€i2 MEMOIRS OF 

intended to be forwarded to Stockholm, by the way 
of Hamburg. 

I received from Madame de la Fayette, amongst 
other communications, the result of a family con- 
sultation upon my proposition to attempt the libera- 
tion of the General, in which they thanked me 
warmly, for all I had done, and wished to do, but at 
the same time said, they preferred remaining to- 
gether in prison, and awaiting tranquilly the result, 
than to endanger, for the welfare of one member, 
the happinessof the whole family; that the General 
had strongly opposed ray proposition, " because," 
said he " when Messrs. Bollmann and Huger made 
the attempt to liberate me, I was alone ; of course, 
no one was exposed on my account; but now, my 
escape must necessarily involve the safety of Ma- 
dame de la Fayette, and our daughters." 

I could not but yield to the force of these argu- 
ments, nor help expressing to Madame de la Fayette 
my admiration of the heroism and noble disinte- 
restedness of the General. In another letter, she 
enclosed me an introduction to Professor Pass}^, 
whom she requested me to visit, and of whom she 
spoke in the highest terms, I accordingly went 
to see the professor almost every evening in the 
week ; but for fear of exciting suspicion, he never 
came to my lodgings, nor to the house of Mr. Hirscb, 
except in the day time. In the tenth, eleventh. 



y 



LA FAYETTE. 263 

and twelfth chapters, I have given an account of this 
estimable man, and of his lamentable fate. 

Mr. Hirsch, to oblige me, accompanied me to the 
road from Troppau to Braunseiffen. We arrived at 
Mr. Richter's, the Mayor, who was a wealthy linen 
manufacturer in this little borough, and occupied the 
fatal house where La Fayette was delivered again to 
the jailers of Olmutz. Mr. Hirsch was the godfather 
and intimate friend of Mr. Richter, so that we were 
received with open arms. I was introduced as a 
Swedish ^merchant, who wished to give orders for 
goods, and see the patterns, he. Hirsch had, on the 
road, given me a favourable account of the Mayor, 
and requested permission to relate every thing to him, 
as he might be of the greatest service to us ; " but." 
added he, " we will not tell him immediately who you 
are. You shall see T will direct the conversation 
to the subject of La Fayette, so that he, not doubt- 
ing but that you are friendly to the General, will 
converse with all the openness of a warm and gene 
rous heart." 

At dinner was present the farmer who had, two 
years before, arrested the General and Bollmann, in 
his capacity of sergeant of the guard, at the barn. 
Here I was told many interesting anecdotes respect- 
ing La Fayette and his friends, which 1 shall de- 
tail at length in a second edition. After a stay of 
two days with the family of the Mayor, I returned 
with the banker to Olmutz. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Ijiberation of the prisoners from Olmutz. Their meeting 
with Madame de Maubourg and Madame Bureau de Puzy. 
Their arrival at Hamburg — Residence in Holstein — Re- 
turn to France. 

As these memoirs have already passed the hmits 
we had prescribed, and as the author is no less impa- 
tient than the publisher, that this imperfect sketch 
may be ready to be presented to General La Fayette 
on his return to this city, the reader will allow me, I 
hope, to abridge the mass of new and interesting de- 
tails I had proposed to publish in this edition of the 
present work. 

The detailed descriptions which I have given from 
the ninth to the fourteenth chapters inclusive, are to 
be found neither in Segur, nor the Edinburgh Review, 
nor the Letters of Lady Morgan, nor the New An- 
nual Register, nor the Memoires pour servir a la vie 
du General La Fayette, by Regnault-Warin, Paris, 
1824, a work which I have jiist received from France 
nor, in short, in any of the numerous publications 
which profess to give an account of his life. I'his 
fact must be sufficient to convince the public that I 



JVIEMOIRS or LA FAYETTE.. 265 

have it in my power to communicate many other de- 
tails respecting La Fayette and his companions, and 
that I miglit augment threefold the size of this book. 
if the reasons I have mentioned above, did not impe- 
riously compel me to abridge it. 

If, however, I am fortunate enough to meet from 
the public a favourable reception, and an encourage- 
ment to proceed to a second edition, I shall give them 
very ample, new and interesting details, drawn from 
my journeys and adventures, as well as from those of 
Victor Latour Maubourg, Louis RomoeufF, Madame 
de Maubourg, and Madame Bureau de Puzy. I 
should also enter more fully into the particulars of 
the journey I made in 1797, from Olmutz to Ham- 
burg, in company with the families of the prisoners, 
after their enlargement, of their residence in Hol- 
stein, of their return to France, and of their private 
life ; and might add a great number of anecdotes hi- 
therto unknown, respecting all the members of the 
numerous family of General La Fayette. This I 
would be the better enabled to do, as the General 
himself, when I took leave of him in New-York, pre- 
vious to his departure for Boston, with very great 
kindness, declared, " that he hoped (I repeat his very 
words) on his return to New- York, that he would be 
able to talk more at large, with his good friend Feld- 
mann, on a variety of subjects." I shall embrace 
that opportunity to make many inquiries with regard 

to circumstances, which, in consequence of our loi^ 

33 



266 MEMOIRS OF 

separation (since, 1810,) have more or less vanished 
from my memory. 

The three prisoners of Olmutz owe their Hbera- 
tion exclusively to the esteem and regard in which 
they were held by Napoleon Bonaparte, at that time 
General-in-Chief of the army of Italy. The Directory 
had made very feeble efforts indeed, to eifect their 
restoration to liberty, and that for reasons already 
assigned. But Bonaparte, by the advice of Major 
General Berthier, who highly esteemed La Fayette, 
resolutely insisted, at the treaty of Campo-Formio, 
which was preceded by the negotiation of Leoben 
and Udine, that, as an indispensable preliminary, the 
prisoners of Olmutz should be immediately released 
from confinement. 

Conformably to the previous stipulations at Leo- 
ben, the victorious French troops entirely evacuated 
the Austrian territory in Tyrol, Carinthia, &;c. Bo- 
naparte went further still, and, desirous of evincing 
liis confidence in the Austrian Emperor, he delivered 
into the power of the officers of the Grand Duke of 
Tuscany, the city and fortifications of Leghorn. But 
he repeated daily his inquiries of the Austrian com- 
missioners, Cobentzel, Mervelt, Degelmann, and the 
celebrated Marquis de Gallo, Neapolitan ambassa- 
dor at Vienna, in whom the Emperor had the fullest 
confidence, "whether the prisoners at Olmutz were 
free or not V and when the commissioners hesita- 
tin^y rephed, that they'believed they were, but that 



LA FAyETTE 267 

they were not certain, he angrily dissolved the ses- 
sion, saying, " gentlemen, you may take my word, that 
if these prisoners are not instantly set free, I sign no 
treaty of peace with his Imperial Majesty." 

This firmness on the part of the young and victo- 
rious French General, threw the commissioners into 
great embarrassment ; and courier after courier \v as 
despatched to Vienna, to hasten the liberation of the 
Olmutz prisoners. The Baron de Thugut, and the 
Count de Saurau, enraged at the thoughts of losing 
their prey, made every attempt to delay their enlarge- 
ment under various pretexts ; and as the feeble Fran- 
cis II. had no will of his own, these two ministers 
would have undoubtedly triumphed, unless General 
Bonaparte had sent Colonel Louis Romoeuff, one of 
the former aids de camp of General La Fayette, to 
Vienna, to demand from the Emperor explicitly the 
immediate liberation of the prisoners, with an accom- 
panying threat, that unless they were freed in one 
month from the date of the demand, he would march 
with his whole army to the capital, and throw open 
their prison himself.* 

The Directory was too much engaged by the dis- 
sentions and intrigues which divided the interior as 
well as the legislative body, to attend to the situation 

* In the second edition we propose to give a more detailed nar- 
rative of this journey of Romceufif, and the progress of this negotia- 
tion, of which, in consequence of our presence at the timcj we can 
furnish a yery exact and authentic account. 



268 MEMOIRS OF 

of the three prisoners at Olmutz, and merely issued 
instructions to Generals Bonaparte and Moreau, to 
claim their restoration, as soon as the occasion ar- 
rived. 

At length, on the 25th of August, 1797, the prison- 
ers were restored to their rights and their liberties, 
and on the seventeenth of October succeeding. Ge- 
neral Bonaparte signed, near Udine, the articles of 
peace, known under the name of the treaty of Campo- 
Formio. 

We shall not now detain the reader, by describing 
the affecting scenes which occurred at our first inter- 
view, and that particularly between the three friends, 
La Fayette, Maubourg, and Puzy, and Madame de la 
Fayette and her daughters. The imprisonment of the 
three first, had now reached the term of five years, 
and that of the latter, twenty-two months, during 
which period their confinement had only been inter- 
rupted by the daily visit they made to the dungeon 
of their illustrious parent. 

The Marquis de Chasteler, had been commission- 
ed by the emperor, to take charge of this negotiation. 
Its nature may be sufficiently understood by the fol- 
lowing declarations, which were made to him in replj 
by General La Fayette : 

" The commission, with the execution of which 
Lieutenant General the Marquis de Chasteler, has 
been charged, seems to me to resolve itself into the 
consideration of three points : 1st. His imperial ma- 



LA FAYETTE. 2(^9 

jesty requires an authenticated statement of our ex- 
act situation. I am not disposed, at present, to com- 
plain of my grievances. Several representations, 
however, on this subject, may be found in the letters 
of my wife, transmitted or sent back by the Austrian 
government; and ifliis majesty is not satisfied by the 
perusal of the instructions sent, in his name, from 
Vienna, I will cheerfully communicate to M. de 
Chasteler all the information he can possibly desire. 

'• 2d, His majesty the Emperor and King, is desirous 
of obtaining an assurance, that upon my liberation, I 
shall immediately leave Europe for America. This 
has been often my desire and my intention ; but as my 
consent, at this moment, to his majesty's request, would 
constitute an acknowledgment of his right to impose 
such a condition, I do not feel disposed to comply 
with this demand. 

" 3d. His majesty,the Emperor and King, has gra- 
ciously done me the honour to signify, that inasmuch 
as the principles I profess are incompatible with 
the safety of the Austrian government, he cannot 
consent to allow me to enter his territories again 
without his special permission. To this I have only 
to reply, that there already exist antecedent obliga- 
tions of which I cannot pOssibly devest myself, partly 
towards America, but mostly towards France ; and 
I cannot engage to do any thing which might inter- 
fere with the rights of my country to my personal 
services. With these exceptions, I can assure the 



2T0 MEIVIOIRS OF 

Marquis de Chasteler, that my invariable resolution 
is, not to set my foot upon any territory under the 
dominion of his majesty the King of Bohemia and 
Hungary." 

Messrs. Maubourg and Puzy made similar decla- 
ri^tions, and the three prisoners signed in consequence 
the following engagement : 

" The undersigned engages towards his majesty the 
Emperor and King, not to enter, at any time what- 
ever, hishereditary provinces, without having first ob- 
tained his special permission ; it being always under- 
stood that the rights of the undersigned's country over 
his person are explicitly reserved and retained." 

On arriving at Hamburg, Messrs. Parish, Morris, 
and a great number of other distinguished Ame- 
ricans, gave us a very splendid and magnificent enter» 
tainment on board of an elegant American ship, which 
lay at anchor in the harbour of the town. These 
gentlemen had previously sent several large barges, 
superbly decorated and manned with American sea- 
men, to meet us at Haarburg, a town on the left bank 
of the Elbe, immediately opposite to Hamburg. 

Through the attention of Messrs. Parish, Masson,, 
Archenholtz, Sieveking, &c. lodgings had been secu- 
red and prepared for us all ; and the next day M. 
Reinhardt, the French minister, gave us an elegant 
entertainment, at which the prisoners made their ap- 
pearance with the tri-coloured cockade, which they 
had mounted on the day of their arrival on the neutral. 



LA FAYETTE. Stl 

territory of Hamburg, in order to show that they were 
not emigrants, nor indeed, had ever ceased to be 
Frenchmen and patriots. 

It was here I enjoyed the pleasure of embracing my 
respected father, who had hastened to meet me, and 
to pay his tribute of respect to the illustrious prison- 
ers. I had sent, when at Dresden, my servant 
with letters of invitation from these gentlemen, and 
from Madame de la Fayette, and entreating him to 
participate in the happiness of his son, who was now 
received into the bosom of their family. 

While they were still in the neighbourhood of 
Altona, George Washington La Fayette arrived 
from Mount Vernon, and the affecting scenes which 
this event gave rise to, we leave to the imagination 
of the reader. 

They remained but a few days at Hamburg, and 
then accepted the invitation of a Hanoverian Baron, 
who begged them to spend some time at the elegant 
chateau of Lehmkuhlen, near Eutin, in Holstein. It 
was here that the marriage of Mile. Anastasia, eldest 
daughter of General La Fayette, with M. Charles 
de Latour-Maubourg,* the prisoner's brother, was 
celebrated in that simple unostentious style, which 
M. and Madame de la Fayette, on all occasions, pre- 

* Mr. M. Regnauft-Warin is mistaken, when he says, in his 
jyiemoires poursevir a laviedu Gen. La Fayette, vol. i. p. 284, thai 
this maijiaoe was solemnized at the Chateau tie Kiel. 



272 MEMOIRS OF 

ferred. The General at this chateau received from 
a gentleman in London, in the name of his two sis- 
ters, a legacy bequeathed by them to La Fayette, 
to the amount of 4000 pounds sterling, which re- 
verted, in case of the General's death, to his widow 
and his children. 

On leaving the chateau of Lehmkuhlen, the prison- 
ers and their families divided into separate parties. 
The General, his lady, his son-in-law, and his two 
daughters, then went to reside at the romantic re- 
treat of Wettmoldt, a chateau, which the count de 
Tesse, (who had married the sister of Madame de la 
Fayette's mother,) purchased shortly after his emi- 
gration. While the General and his family re- 
mained at Wettmoldt, I visited them three or four 
times in company with my father. 

General La Fayette used frequently to dispute 
with his uncle, who was a nobleman of the old 
school, and Grand Cordon of the order of St. Esprit, 
and never omitted to wear the badge on holidays 
and Sundays. It was really an amusing and inte- 
resting spectacle, to see the ancien regime in the per- 
son of this venerable old man, engaged in con- 
test with the constitutional, patriotic, and republi- 
can principles of General La Fayette, who came off 
uniformly triumphant, not only because his subject 
w^as that of liberty and reason, but because he at- 
tacked the unmeaning exclamations of his uncle, 



LA FAYETTE. 273 

with irrefragable arguments* After they had ex- 
hausted themselves in the controversy, they broke 
into a hearty laugh, shook hands, and were then 
again the best friends in the world. 

It was in this delightful retreat, that General La 
Fayette resumed his old business, as he told me him- 
self at the time, the life and occupation of a peasant. 
He studied with great care the agriculture of 
Holstein, and particularly the best modes of raising 
cattle, in which the inhabitants of Holstein especially 
excelled. His attention was, above all, directed to 
the breeding of Merino sheep, in which, several years 
after, at La Grange, his country seat near Paris, he 
showed very great skill and ability. 

General Maubourg, his friend and companion in mis- 
fortune, had fixed his residence, with all his family, 
in the small town of Plon, three miles from the cha- 
teau of Wettmoldt, where he lived in philosophical 
retirement. All the Holstein nobility rendered to 
these two objects of ministerial tyranny, the most 
unequivocal testimonials of regard and respect. 
Among these, was particularly distinguished the Dan- 
ish chamberlain, Augustus Hennings, prefect {bailli) 
of Plon. Archenholtz and he were friends, rival 
authors and journalists of great reputation, and warm 
admirers of General La Fayette, his family, and com- 
panions. They both directed their bold and anima- 
ed eloquence against the Prussian and Austrian cabi- 
nets, and they both left behind them (for they died 
long ago) the sincerest regrets of us all. 



^?4 MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETfE. 

Mr. Bureau de Puzy, who, in 1796, as we have 
stated before, refused to leave his prison without his 
companions, accompanied us on the journey from 01- 
mutz to Hamburg. He proceeded to Altona, where 
he was joined by his father-in-law, Mr. Dupont de 
Nemours, and Madame de Nemours, his wife's mother. 
They embarked together for New- York, where they 
were received with the greatest cordiality, as well 
on account of their personal merit, as because Mr. de 
Puzy had been the companion and intimate friend of 
General La Fayette. As he was consummately skilled 
in the science of engineering, he was invited to su- 
perintend the public works erecting in defence of 
New- York. He, however, with great delicacy de- 
clined the appointment until he had obtained the con- 
sent of the government of France. As soon as the 
First Consul was made acquainted with this fact, he 
immediately recalled him, and appointed him succes- 
sively, officer, then commander of the Legion of 
Honour, Prefect of the departments of I'Allier, Rhone 
and Genoa, at which latter place he died, too soon 
for his friends and his country, on the second of Feb^ 
ruary, 1806. 

La Fayette and Latour Maubourg led a very 
peaceful and happy life, at their respective retreats 
in Holstein, and shortly after the affair of the 18 th of 
Brumaire, returned to France, after having spent a 
abort time in Holland. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



La Fayette, under the government of Napoleon; His son, 
George Washington la Fayette. Death of Madame de la 
Fayette. Unfortunate accident which happened to the 
General. Different resolutions offered by La Fayette in 
the chamber of representatives. 



As soon as General La Fayette, heard of the re- 
volution of the 18th Brumaire, he returned with M. 
de Latoiir Maubourg to France, and went instantly 
to Paris. In common with all good men, he saw 
and hailed the prospect of the restoration of better 
and sounder politics. He respected the young 
hero who had evinced so much interest in his wel- 
fare ; and felt extremely grateful for all that had 
been done for him while in prison. He did not 
forget that it was to General Bonaparte, and to the 
energetic measures he had adopted, that he owed his 
liberty. Bonaparte had already saved France. 
It was now necessary, in order to establish the new 
state of things upon a solid and brilliant basis, to 
attract around bim all the talents and worth of 



276 MEMOIRS OF 

the country. La Fayette was among the rest invi- 
ted to the Tuilleries. The First Consul soon saw 
that this veteran of two revolutions entertained 
opinions wholly at variance with his own, and that a 
character like his would not readily yield to the yoke 
of absolute monarchy ; and after the first interview, 
which took place under auspices favourable to both 
parties, there began to be, on each side, a gradual 
diminution of regard. The First Consul, however, 
still retained him as general of the division, and 
wished to raise him to a higher rank, by tendering 
him subsequently the office of Senator, which his 
friends strongly urged him to accept ; but he de- 
clined, and wrote to the Minister of war, as follows : 
" Associated, from their commencement, with the 
institutions which have triumphed in Europe ; united 
in heart to the generals of the republic; I have never 
ceased to be their companion, and I cannot pretend 
to aspire, after so many victories which they have 
achieved, to become their successful competitor." 

These few words strongly depict the disinterested 
and noble sentiments of La Fayette, who refused a 
salary of 36,000 livres, as senator, and from 12 to 
18,000 more, as a count of the empire, after he had 
lost his immense fortune, and was now scarcely able 
to realise an income of 10,000 franks a year, though 
he formerly possessed 200,000. 

But La Fayette appeared in a still more exaltcicl 



LA FAYETTE. ^77 

light, when the question of electing Bonaparte con- 
sul for life, was under discussion. Shortly be- 
fore this even^JI^ had a remarkable interview with 
the First Consul, who invited La Fayette expressly 
to meet him at the Tuilleries. When he appeared, 
Bonaparte ordered every one to retire, and recei- 
ved him alone in his cabinet. They conversed upon 
the constitution, and the hap[)iness of the people, and 
at length the consul attempted to sound him upon 
the proposed nomination. " General," said La Fay- 
ette to him, without hesitation, " before venturing 
upon such a step, France, and her best subjects, ex- 
pect of you a guaranty of their liberties. As soon 
as they are satisfied on this score, they will comply 
with your wishes unasked." From that time for- 
ward, Bonaparte and La Fayette became irreconci- 
lably opposed to each other. 

His vote was expressed in the following terms : 
" I cannot vote for such a magistracy, until the 
liberties of the people are secured : in that case, I 
vote for Napoleon Bonaparte." 

He wrote, at the same time, to the First Consul, as 
follows : 
" General, 

"When a man, who is deeply impressed with a 
sense of the gratitude he owes you, and who is too 
ardent a lover of glory to be wholly indifferent to 
yours, connects his suiTrage with conditional restric- 

24 



278 MEMOIRS OF 

tions, those restrictions not only secure him from sus- 
picion, but prove amply, that no one will, more glad- 
ly than himself, behold in you theKiiief magistrate, 
for life, of a free and independent republic. 

"The eighteenth of Brumaire saved France from 
destruction : and I felt myself reassured and recall- 
ed by the liberal declarations to which you have con- 
nected the sanction of your honour. In your con- 
sular authority, there was afterwards discerned that 
salutary dictatorial prerogative, which, under the 
auspices of a genius like 3'ours, accomplished such 
glorious purposes ; yet, less glorious, let me add, 
than the restoration of liberty would prove. 

" It is not possible, General, that you, the first 
amidst that order of mankind, which surveys every 
age and every countrj^, before the stations of its mem- 
bers in the scale can be determined, that you can 
desire that a revolution, marked by an unexampled 
series of stupendous victories and unheard of sutFer- 
ings, shall give nothing to the world but a renovated 
system of arbitrary government. The people of 
this country have been acquainted with their rights too 
long, to forget them for ever: but perhaps they may re- 
cover, and enjoy them better now, than during the pe- 
riod of revolutionary effervescence. And you, by the 
strength of your character, and the influence of pub- 
lic confidence, by the superiority of your talents, 
your power, and your fortunes, in re-establishing the 



LA FAYETTE. 279 

liberties of France, can allay all agitations, calm all 
anxieties, and subdue all dangers. 

*' When I wish, then, to see the career of your glo- 
ry crownedby the honours of perpetual magistracy, I 
but act in correspondence with my own private senti- 
ments, and am influenced exclusivel}^ by patriotic con- 
siderations. But all my political and moral obliga- 
tions, the principles that have governed every action 
of my life, call on me to pause, before I bestow on 
you my suffrage, until I feel assured that your au- 
thority shall be erected on a basis worthy of the na- 
tion and yourself. 

"1 confidently trust, General, that you will re- 
cognise here, as you have done on all other occa- 
sions, a steady continuance of my political opinions, 
combined with the sincerest prayers for your wel- 
fare, and the deepest sense of all my obligations to- 
wards you." 

It is easy to recognise, in the language of this let- 
ter, a man whose principles have never deviated for 
a moment, and who, in defiance of what was term- 
ed legitimate authority, as well as under all the pres- 
sure of arbitrary tyranny, braved its menaces, and 
resisted its encroachments. It must be admitted, 
that such conscientious firmness of purpose is ex- 
ceedingly rare; and we are particularly bound to 
admire it, when it involves consequences of serious 
danger. In this point of view, La Fayette deserves 



280 MEMOIRS OF 

the highest applause ; for, at all times, and under all 
circumstances, he continued true to his political pro- 
fessions, and faithful to his country's interests. 

This letter was never answered, and La Fayette 
did not see the First Consul again, until the third of 
June, 1815. At the opening of the chamber of rep- 
resentatives, he and his son attended as deputies, the 
former from the department de la Haute Loire, and 
the latter from Seine and Marne. 

This only and beloved son, George Washington 
La Fayette, served from the coi:nraencement of the 
war in 1800, as one of the guides d^honneur to the 
guards of the FirstConsul, and armed and equipped 
himself at his own expense, and never consented to 
receive any pay. General Grouchy appointed hiro 
liis aid de camp, as he was extremely intelligent, 
brave, and active, and an officer of great merit, dis- 
tinguishing himself on various occasions. After 
the rupture between La Fayette and the First Consul, 
the latter extended his resentment to all attached 
to the family of La Fayette. Mr. George La Fay- 
ette, De Lasteyrie, husband of Virginia La Faj- 
ette, Rene Fillet, Louis Romoeuff, former aids de 
camp of La 'Fayette, were marked out by Bona- 
parte, as meriting neither advancement nor distinc- 
tion. This unworthy treatment did not prevent 
young La Fayette's continuing his service with 
great and distinguished activitv. When Bona- 



LA FAYETTE. 281 

parte was made Emperor, he caused it to be insinua- 
ted through Prince Neufchatel to George W. La 
Fayette, that he ought to tender his resignation, 
under the pretext that he was fatigued with the ser- 
vice. But he nobly replied, " that so long as his 
country was involved in wars, he should feel 
himself disgraced by a resignation, and that he 
should be ashamed even to think of it,- while all his 
companions were daily exposing themselves to dan- 
gers of every sort. It was true, he was an American 
citizen, but he was first of all a Frenchman, and a 
loyal Frenchman." 

Berthier embraced him with delight, and report- 
ed his answer to the Emperor. But nothing could 
move him ; for at the battle of Eylau, George had 
the good fortune twice to save the life of General 
Grouchy, whose horse had been killed under him 
in a charge. Grouch}^ made a brilliant report of 
his exemplary conduct, and requested a promotion 
for him, and the cross of the Legion of Honour, but 
had the mortification to learn that the Emperor 
petulantly erased the name of George Washington 
La Fayette from the report, not even permitting 
his name to appear in the bulletin ! The young 
officer continued in service notwithstanding, and did 
not retire to La Grange, his paternal residence, until 
after the ratification of peace at Tilsit. No sti'onger 

24* 



262 MEMOIRS OF 

proof is wanting, that this only son is worthy of his 
noble father. 

While General La Fayette lived retired at his 
estate of La Grange, sixteen^ leagues from Paris, 
near the small town of Rosay, in the province of 
Brie, where he devoted himself entirely to agricul- 
ture, Madame de la Fayette, who had brought with 
her from the dungeons of Olmutz the seeds of a fatal 
disease, was struck with a paralysis, which deprived her 
of the use of her limbs, and prevented her from mo- 
ving even from one room to another, except in an easy 
chair mounted on rollers. Her husband and fa- 
mily, alarmed at her situation, prevailed upon her to 
return to Paris for medical advice. She reluctantly 
consented, and often said to the General, " I feel, my 
dear husband, that my situation is hopeless, and 
that the best medical advice cannot restore me to 
health. I should wish, therefore, to die in peace, 
surrounded by you and my children, in this house 
of my ancestors,* rather than in the capital ; but as 
you wish it, I will go." She was conveyed to 
Paris ; but no skill could save her. 

This striking model of heroism and virtue, died 
on the 24th of December, 1807, after the most se- 

* The estate of La Grange belonged to Madame de la Fayette ; 
it had been sequestered, but was restored under the Directory. All 
the other estates of the two faniilies, La Fayette and NoailJes^ 
(his wife's,) were sold, with the exception of a small farm in Au- 
vergne, of which the General is still in possession. 



LA FAYETTE. 2S3 

vere sufferings, which she bore with fortitude, while, 
at the same time, she endeavoured to conceal them 
as much as possible from her friends. She expired 
in the midst of her large family, who in vain poured 
out their prayers to heaven for her recovery. 

She had lost the faculty of speech when I arrived 
from Montmorency to see her. What a terrible im- 
pression this sad spectacle made upon me ! Her hus- 
band and family were assembled around her bed, and 
covered their faces, while the dying woman, with 
a smile playing on her pallid lips, contemplated in 
silence this heart-rending spectacle. All the ladies 
on their knees, with their children, stifled their sobs, 
as they pressed around her couch. Even at this 
moment, when so many years have glided awaj^, 
I cannot revive the recollection, without shedding 
tears to the memory of this innocent victim of the 
two Austrian tyrants, whose cruelties had shortened 
her existence. She seemed to recognise me, and 
gently taking my hand, pressed it, while she at- 
tempted to speak, but she could not utter a word, 
and I hurried out of the room, and never saw her 
again until she was wrapt in her shroud. Let the 
feeling reader excuse me from pursuing so painful a 
subject. I am absolutely unable to write all I feel at 
this moment, and must lay down my pen to compose 
myself. 

La Fayette's troubles were not yet at an end. 



284 MExAIOIRS OF 

The next winter, after transacting some business 
with M. Decres, Minister of the Marine, he left the 
office about ten o'clock in the evening; a rain ha- 
ving just fallen, which had frozen on the ground, and 
as the General had left his carriage two hundretl 
paces olf, in walking to it, he had the misfortune to 
fail and break his leg. He was carried to his car- 
riage, sufiering excruciating pain ; one of the most 
skilful surgeons applied to it an apparatus consisting 
of two wooden splints, lirmiy bound together, which 
he was obliged to wear nearly six months, while at 
the same time he was compelled to keep the same 
position for fear of deranging the dressings. He v*^as 
cured at the end of the year, after severe suffering, 
but he remains lame to this day. 

La Fayette continued at his chateau of La Grange, 
a quiet spectator of political occurrences, and of the 
restoration of the Bourbons. In 1814, at the period 
of the restoration, he had only seen the King and 
Monsieur his brother once ; and although well re- 
ceived, he did not return. He quitted his retreat 
only at the moment that he knew 1 ,200,000 foreigners 
were invading his country. It was at this period that 
King Joseph, brother to the Emperor, proposed to 
him a meeting, to judge for himself the value of the 
guaranties that were about to be offered to the 
French people, and to the world. La Fayette thought 
it his duty to agree to this proposal, saying, " that 
he now went with an incredulity which *would fully 



LA FAYETTE. 285 

compensate for his excess of confidence in the year 8*" 
He did not hesitate to declare, that, without beheving 
the complete political conversion of Bonaparte, he 
thought they might safely rely upon his cordial sup- 
port, against foreign invasion or influence, or against 
any family or party who would avail itself of such as- 
sistance, in order to attack the independence and 
liberties of France. He refused the peerage, insist- 
ed upon the immediate convocation of the chamber 
of representatives, and would not enter again into 
political affairs, unless elected by his countrymen. 
It will be readily recollected, that the truly liberal 
doctrines of the freedom of the press, and the re- 
establishment of popular elections, characterized 
this period. La Fayette entered his protest in his 
department, and to the college of electors of Seine 
and Marne, against the articles of the constitutions of 
the empire, and of the^dditional act which conspired 
against the sovereignty of the people, and the rights 
of each individual ; but this did not hinder the col- 
lege of the department from electing him its pre- 
sident and first deputy. 

In 1814, a libel on La Fayette* issued from one 
of the imperial presses, a false and calumnious work, 
which reflected no honour on its author, a servant of 
the late king; but notwithstanding the numberless 
animadversions which were showered upon him, the 

* The pamphlet containing it was entitled, ^^ Last Moments of 
the Life of Louis XF7/' by Hue. his fiist valet de chambre, 



286 MEMOIRS OF 

General and his friends were not prevented from de- 
claring, on the landing of Napoleon, that in every 
measure which promoted the liberty of France, they 
would lend the princes all the aid in their power. 
The Emperor never could reckon him, for ohe mo- 
ment, among those who reposed their hopes upon him. 
Placed first in his hst of peers, La Fayette declared 
he could not accept the nomination ; hut if the go- 
vernment convoked a regular national representation, 
he should think he owed it to the imminent dangers 
of his country, and to the election of the people, to 
take part again in public affairs. His independence 
and his want of faith in Napoleon, were preserved* 
notwithstanding the urgent advances of the latter ; 
and he resolutely refused to go near him till after his 
final abdication. 

Notwithstanding all Bonaparte's efforts to procure 
the nomination of one of the four presidents of the de- 
partments of the council of state. Merlin De Douay, 
Regnault de St. Jeand'Angely, Defermont andBoulay 
de la Meurthe, as president of the Chamber, the voi- 
ces were divided between Lenjuinais, La Fayette, 
and Flangergues. After two ballots, the votes incli- 
ned in favour of Lenjuinais, and although the ministers 
and council of state, who preferred La Fayette, spread 
a false report that Napoleon disliked Lenjuinais, he 
was, notwithstanding, recognised as president, and 
La Fayette as Vice President of the Chamber of 
Representatives,by Napoleon, in consequence of the 
intrepid counsels of Carnot. 



LA FAYETTE. 287 

After the battle of Waterloo, when the Emperor 
attempted to prorogue the House, and proclaim him- 
self dictator, La Fayette was present at the meeting 
of the 2 1st of June, 1815, and made the following ob- 
servations, with all his usual energy : 

" When, for the first time for many years, I raise my 
A^oice, which the old friends of liberty will recognise 
again, I feel myself compelled to address you, gentle- 
men, on the imminent danger of the country, which 
you alone are able to prevent. 

" Sinister rumours have been circulated, and are 
now unhappily confirmed. Now is the time to rally 
around the old tricoloured standard of '89, of liberty, 
of equality, and of public order ; it is this alone which 
we are bound to defend against foreign pretensions, 
and domestic factions. Allow a veteran in this holy 
cause, who has been always an enemy to the spirit of 
dissention, to submit the following preliminary reso- 
lutions, of which I hope you will a imit the necessity. 

" Article 1 . The Chamber of Representatives de- 
clare that the independence o/ the nation is endan- 
gered. 

" Article 2. The Chamber declare themselves in 
continued session ; that every attempt to prorogue 
the session shall be considered high treason ; that any 
one guilty of such attempt shall be deemed a traitor 
to his country, and be instantly proceeded against as 
such. 

" Article 3. The army of the line and the national 



288 MEMOIRS OP 

guards, who have fought and are still fighting for the in 
dependence of France, deserve the gratitude of thei^^ 

r 

country. 

" Article 4. TheMinister of the Interior is requested 
to assemble the General Staff, the commandants ar^*^ 
Majors of the Legion of the National Guard of Pari&? 
to consult on the means of supplying them with arms, 
and to render complete this citizen guard, whose p 
triotism and zeal, having been proved for twenty-, 
years, offer a sure guaranty of the liberty, the pro- 
perty, and the tranquillity of the capital, and of the 
invioliability of the representatives of the nation. 

" Article 5. The Ministers of War, those of Foreign 
Relations, of the Interior, and of the Police, are invi- 
ted to attend the Assembly immediately." 

Yet it was La Fayette, the resolute and determin- 
ed foe to arbitrary powor, who demanded in the As- 
sembly that the liberty and life of Napoleon should 
be put under the protection of the French people. 
La Fayette was on the embassy commissioncf- 
ask of the allied powers a suspension of hostilii ^ 
On their refusal, he returned to the Capital, and fou: 
to his great regret, that the city had capitulated, and 
that the army was withdrawn. On the 6th of July, 
he spoke to the Assembly of the conferences of Ha- 
guenau, and of the patriotic sentiments of the depart- 
ments through which he had passed, which he declar- 
ed were conformable to those of the famous manifes- 
to of the preceeding evening, to which he personally 
adhered. 



LA FAYETTE. 288 

On the 8th of July, finding the doors of the Assem- 
bly closed, he received at his own house a great num- 
oer of the deputies, and went with them to the presi- 
dent's, to testify to this exclusion ; and to sign the 
'oces verbal. After having done every thing that a 
itizen in his circumstances could be called upon to 
do, he returned a second time to the bosom of his fa- 
"ly at La Grange, where we shall follow him for a 
moments. 



25 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

La Fatette at La Grange, in the bosom of his family. 

Many distinguished and celebrated men, after per- 
forming prominent parts upon the great theatre of 
the world, have escaped from the turbulence and toil 
of a political life, to the bosom of domestic retirement. 
But very few, indeed, among them all, have left the 
public arena under circumstances so honourable to 
themselves as General La Fayette. 

The great majority of them, wearied, deceived, 
disgusted, or disgraced, have retired against their will, 
because there no longer remained any other alterna- 
tive. But La Fayette left cheerfully and willingly 
the turmoil of public affairs, and sought refuge in a 
quiet retreat, about fifty miles from Paris, remote 
from great highways and populous cities, to live like 
the patriarchs of old, in the bosom of a fond and af- 
fectionate family. It is generally known, that he had 
lost the whole of his great fortune ; but that he had it 
at his option to pursue a new career, more brilliant 
and more lucrative, perhaps, than that of which he 
had been deprived. Nobody is ignorant, that the 



MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETTE. 291 

extraordinary man who held the destinies of France 
in his hands, at the time of the return of La Fayette, 
esteemed and distinguished him by many marks of 
his regard, and made him oiTers, which, had he ac- 
cepted them, would have led him to the pinnacle of 
grandeur and wealth. But by doing so. La Fayette 
would have made himself an instrument in the hands 
of Napoleon, to assist him in the subjugation of the 
liberties of France, and La Fayette did not hesitate 
an instant. He sacrificed his personal aggrandize- 
ment to the welfare of his country, rejected every 
offer whatever, and preferred the aurea mediocritas, 
and a philosophical and honourable retreat, lo the 
most tempting propositions of the chief magistrate of 
France ! His inclinations, his opinions, and his feel- 
ings, confirmed him in the act, and La Fayette con- 
tinued worthy of himself, resisting, with consistent 
uniformity, the pressing entreaties of his numerous 
friends, and the brilliant offers of the government of 
his countrv. 

He is tenderly loved by his numerous family, who 
resemble himself closely in the principal traits of his 
character. Modest, plain, and unassuming, in his ge- 
neral deportment, he has ever been the enemy of pa- 
rade and ostentation, I have been with him fre- 
quently, when he was dressed in his gray coat and 
round hat, with his cane in his hand, and his grand- 
son walking between us, and have thus gone with him 
over his farm, adjoining the chateau of La Grange, to 



292 MEMOIRS OF 

examine and count his flocks of merinoes. I have seen 
him enter into Hvely and famihar conversation with the 
shepherds, go into the sheepfold, look at the diseases 
of the sheep, and attend to the shearing. On such 
occasions, he would say to me, " My dear friend, you 
cannot conceive how much pleasure 1 enjoy in watch- 
ing the yearly growth of this fine flock. It was in 
your country* I first learned the proper management 
of sheep, and I have here succeeded in crossing the 
mestices with the merinoes. Do you know that each 
fleece will give me twelve francs, und that I get two 
shearings every year, &;c. &;c." His grandson would 
frequently interrupt him, and ask question after ques- 
tion, first of his grandfather, and then of me, as I gene- 
rally held one of his hands. His grandfather always 
took pains to explain whatever the hoy could be made 
to understand, and was never fatigued with answering 
all the questions he asked. At other times we ram- 
bled in his beautiful park, where the children would 
amuse themselves in sports in which he would often 
participate himself, setting on the smaller in pursuit 
of the larger, and cheering and helping them forward 
as they ran. At other times again we walked over 
his new plantations, which are now, I presume, of 
considerable extent; and here he took pleasure in 
shewing the marshes he had drained, the fields he had 
cleared and made fertile, and the charming grove 

* The reader will recollect that part of my family resided at 
Holsteio. 



LA. FAYETTE. 2l93 

he had planted, at two gunshots distance from the 
house. Here, he had set out rows of all sorts of fruit 
trees and grafted them ; there, he had brought streams 
of water over dry or parched soils ; thus every day 
varying his rural occupations and amusements. 

But before we speak of the regular course of life 
which La Fayette's family lived at La Grange, we 
ought to make our readers acquainted with the in- 
mates of the chateau. When Madame de la Fay- 
ette was living, she and the General occupied sepa- 
rate apartments, with a door of commmi-cation. 

George Washington La Fayette married, in 1803, 
Mademoiselle de Tracy, daughter of the Count and 
senator of that name, who had always belonged to 
the liberal party. In order to give the reader an 
idea of the character and merits of this lady, it is 
sufficient to say, that she was worthy of being the 
daughter of Madame de la Fayette. She has five 
children, of which the eldest is a young woman of 
twenty years of age, and the favourite of her grand- 
father. 

Mademoiselle Anastasie la Fayette, daughter of 
the General, married, as I have mentioned already, 
the brother of his companion in misfortune, Mr. 
Charles Latour Maubourg, who served in the latter 
campaigns of the war with very great credit and dis- 
tinction. He united to a cold, yet agreeable exte- 
rior, great sensibility, and courage, with very little 
25* 



294 



MEMOIRS OF 



ambition. He has always been the most constant 
resident at La Grange, detesting the capital and its 
tjoisy society, and assisting his father-in-law in all 
the various occupations of the country. I have often 
accompanied him, in his favourite amusements of 
shooting and hunting. His family consists of four 
children, of which two are married, and one of them 
fias two children. 

Mademoiselle Virginia la Fayette married M. de 
C<asteyrie, nephew of the celebrated agriculturalist 
of the same name, who travelled for a long time 
♦through the greater part of Europe, in order to 
study the best mode of breeding and managing sheep. 
To him we are indebted for the excellent and well 
known treatise, Sur les betes a laine de VEspagne. 
M. de Lasteyrie served with his brother-in-law, 
George, in the campaigns of Jena, Eylau, Friedland, 
&:c. where he greatly distinguished himself. The 
emperor, who knew that he saw the son-in-law 
of La Fayette, gave him neither the cross of 
iipnour, nor any military advancement ; and al- 
ways erased his name from the list of officers re- 
comgiended for promotion ; and it is known from 
good authority, that in a fit of anger he exclaimed, 
"I meet these La Fayettes every where!" 

I cannot refrain from relating the following an- 
ecdote of Madame de Lasteyrie, when she was con- 



LA FAYETTE. 295 

fined with her relations in the castle of Olmutz, then 
about fifteen years of age, since it cannot but give 
pleasure to the reader. One day, her father, in 
entering her chamber, observed her standing in a 
corner with her hands clasped together, and her face 
turned towards the wall. Her father, whom she did 
not see, observed her for a moment, but not wishing 
to interrupt her, withdrew. He several times after 
noticed her in the same attitude, and asked in the 
most affectionate manner, if she was unwell ; she 
blushed, and replied in the negative, but gave him 
no farther answer. After repeated questioning from 
her mother, she at length acknowledged, that she 
was engaged in pra3ing to God, for the deliverance 
of the Polish hero, Kosciusko, who was then groan- 
ing in Russian fetters, as her father was in those of 
Austria ! 

As the General had often spoken, in his family, of 
his former companion in arms, and detailed many of 
the curious and noble incidents of his life, the mind 
of Virginia, who strongly resembles her admirable 
mother, was filled with enthusiasm for this hero, and 
her imagination constantly recurred to him, and his 
achievements, and she prayed to Heaven for his de- 
liverance, though she w^as not personally acquainted 
with him. 

The General related this incident to me during 
our journey from Olmutz to Dresden, and I could 



296 MEMOIRS OF 

not but admire this fine trait of character. The day 
after our arrival at Dresden, where we remained one 
day in order to allow Madame de la Fayette, who was 
weak and indisposed, time to recover from her fa- 
tigue, I purchased a full length engraving of Kosciusko, 
which I designed as a present for this young lady, 
and took it to General La Fayette's room, where 
Madame de la Fayette then was. They were both 
delighted with the idea, and the daughter was imme- 
diately called. " Here," said I " Mademoiselle Vir- 
ginia, is a little present, which I beg you to accept as 
a slight proof of my friendship ;" at the same time I 
unrolled the portrait, without allowing her to look at 
the name. The moment she cast her eyes upon it, 
she blushed deeply, and threw herself into her mo- 
ther's arms, exclaiming, " ' Tis Kosciusko ! It cannot be 
any one elsej^'' As soon as she recovered from her 
confusion, she accepted the print with a blush, though 
she never after mentioned the name of Kosciusko 
without emotion. 

Besides the different apartments of the chatean 
belonging to the four united families, viz. that of the 
father, son, and two sons-in-law, there is one devo- 
ted to M. de Maubourg, the intimate friend and com- 
panion of the General, and his lady, and another to 
General Victor Latour Maubourg, the brother 
of the last mentioned, who under Louis XVIIL vVas 
minister of war, and ambassador to London, and is 



LA FAYETTE. 297 

now, with a wooden leg, governor of the hotel of the 
hivalids at Paris.* 

Two other apartments were constantly reserved for 
Madame Amelia de Maubourg and Madame de 
Maisonneuve, sisters of the gallant companion of La 
Fayette. In the same way, I, myself, had a room in 
one of the towers, commanding a fine view of the 
park, appropriated to me whenever T visited La 
Grange. 

The life which these four families lead, of which 
La Fayette is the patriarclial chief, is one of quiet, 
peaceable uniformity, peculiarly gratifying to a 
calm, reflecting mind, which is under no necessity of 
seeking for noisy, or turbulent pleasures abroad. 
The coxcomb, or mere man of pleasure, would find 
himself disagreeably situated at La Grange, and the 

* Lady Morgan, in her work, entitled France, page 132, vol. 2, 
says, "In La Fayette's family was, among others, a venerable 
great-uncle, the former grand prior of Malta, with hair white as 
snow, with his dress and order worn as proudly as when he had issued 
forth at the head of his pious troops, against the Paynim foe, or 
Christian enemy." 

As we do not know of any other great-uncle in the family of La 
Fayette who could have been a Knight of Malta, than General 
Victor Latour Maubourg, brother of Charles, and Governor of the 
Hospital of Invalids at Paris, we shal], in reply to Lady Morgan, 
state, that he never was a grand prior of the order, but merel}'^ a 
knight. That, being married, long since, to the daughter of the 
Dutch General Vander Yssel, he was obliged to resign ; as the sta- 
tutes declare that no knight may marry, without the special periois^ 
hion of the Grand Master, and of the Holy Father. 



298 MEMOIRS OF 

dissatisfaction of its inhabitants, as simple in their 
manner of living, as in their dress, could not but be 
mutual. It would be in vain to seek for splendid 
dresses, jewels, or any of the trappings of worldly 
vanity at La Grange; the jewels of the La Fayette 
family are those of the mother of the Gracchi. 

Little rural balls are frequently given in the park, 
in the midst of the honest farmers and peasants of 
the neighbourhood, and plays are performed daily 
by both old and young members of the family, in 
the open air. 

Early in the morning, every one is occupied in 
his own apartment, where a servant brings him 
coffee, chocolate, or tea ; scarcely an individual 
makes his appearance in the saloon, till ten or eleven 
o'clock. The utmost quiet and silence reigns 
throughout the chateau until this time. Then all 
the families meet together at breakfast, and the de- 
lightful prattle of the children is amusingly con- 
trasted with the kind and constant attentions of 
their parents. Each mother is surrounded by her 
little ones, the fathers assist in taking care of them, 
and the grandfather presides over the whole. 

After breakfast, each one retires till five o'clock, 
when dinner is brought up ; the families again meet, 
converse, laugh, sing, and dance, every one amu- 
sing himself according to his age and taste. 

hn Fayette is generally employed in the morning 



LA FAYETTE. 299 

in attending to his family accounts, answering his 
numerous letters, and occasionally in reading. His 
bed-chamber is adjoining his cabinet, which contains 
a well filled library, and numerous objects, all rela- 
tive to America. Here, seated at his. desk, he can 
see on his left his whole farm, and his stables, and on 
his right, the park and a very large elegant lawn, co- 
vered with rich grass, which furnishes him with an 
abundance of excellent hay. 

His skill in farming is so great, that he was fre- 
quently and highly complimented upon it, by Mr. 
Fox, during his visit to La Grange. 



CONCLUSION. 



In the history of the extraordinary events which 
characterized the two great revolutions of America 
and France, and which utterly destroyed all esta- 
blished usages, shook the foundations of thrones, 
and threatened the total ruin of arbitrary power, 
the name of La Fayette will always occupy a dis- 
tinguished place. 

Nothing but the spirit of party, and the excited 
passions of his enemies, could have possibly 
induced them to attack his intentions and his ac- 
tions, as being selfish, feeble, reprehensible, and 
even criminal. We must either lament their blind- 
ness, or censure their want of generosity, in the 
acrimony which marked their persecution of a man 
like La Fayette ; a man who had experienced so 
many misfortunes, and so many extraordinary and 
unmerited reverses. 

We have seen him at the age of nineteen, leaving 
the lap of opulence, and the abode of pleasure, and 
tearing himself away from the allurements and at- 



MEMOIRS OF LA FAYETTE. 301 

tractions of a voluptuous court; we have seen him 
submit to a separation from a youthful, amiable, and 
affectionate wife, whom he almost idolized, endowed 
with every grace and virtue that can adorn the sex, 
to encounter the fury of the elements, and brave 
danger and death, in order to join the standard of 
liberty in a new, and, to him, an unknown world. 
We have seen him shed his blood in that sacred 
cause; and, impatient under the idea of not having 
yet done enough, we have seen him hastily aban- 
don the bed of sickness and of suffering, to devote 
himself again to the cause of freedom, and again 
to expose himself to perils and to death. 

Every year of the American revolution exhibits 
the young hero more accomplished, more modest, 
and more ardent in his attachment. It was for this 
the American people contended with the warrior in 
the noblest of rivalship«; the one slill striving to 
outdo the other ; La Fayette in zeal for America's 
cause, and America in gratitude for her hero's 
services. 

Two years before the French revolution, La 
Fayette endeavoured to obtain the suppression of a 
multitude of abuses, such as the lettres de cachet, and 
the prisons of state. At the same time, he attempted 
to procure the convocation of the National Assem- 
bly, and became the protector of theprotestants, and 
the advocate of the people of colour. In a word, 

26 



302 MEMOIRS OF 

he was the champion of every thing which was just, 
and right, and honourable, or in any way suited to 
the dignity of man. 

The revolution saw him president of the Consti- 
tuent Assembly, Commander-in-chief of the National 
Guard, and of the armies of France ; and, beloved 
and adored as he was by the people, it only depend- 
ed on himself to become at once,- the arbiter of her 
laws and the ruler of her destinies. At this moment, 
he found himself unexpectedly proscribed and perse- 
cuted ; exposed to hatred and devoted to death, by the 
very persons he had protected and covered with innu- 
merable benefits. A w^andering fugitive, he is next in- 
sulted and betrayed, immured in dungeons, and 
treated as the vilest of criminals. 

The Emperor of Austria, and his two worthy sa- 
tallites, Thugut and Saurau, not content with wreak- 
ing their vengeance on him, extended their cruelty 
and hatred to a woman illustrious in her birth, her 
virtues, and her misfortunes, who was only released 
from the prisons of ierror to be buried alive with her 
husband, in the dungeons of despotism. But even 
this was not enough to glut the insatiate rage of her 
executioners ; her daughters, two young and inter- 
esting girls, of 14 and 16 years of age, were made to 
feel the weight of Austrian barbarity, by being con- 
fined Avith their parents, without being permitted to 
leave their prisons, or to afford them any consola- 



LA FAYETTE. ' 303 

tion, but that of sharing their privations and their 
sufferings. 

I cannot contemplate, without the most painful 
emotions, the situation of these four august victims 
of tyranny, shut up within the walls of two narrow, 
damp, and unhealthy dungeons, deprived of whole- 
some air and food, and of every convenience of life ; 
sick and suffering, yet tranquil, patient and re- 
signed ; and, although their birth, and education, and 
Avealth, had once surrounded them with all the com- 
forts and luxuries of life, now seeking in vain for 
repose upon their miserable pallets of straw. 

La Fayette was at length released, and enjoyed 
a few moments of happiness, which he owed to the 
young Hero of Italy ; to him whose conduct he was 
forced to disapprove — who transcended the bounds of 
virtuous liberty ; to him, in a word, who was compe- 
tent alone to accomplish the glory and happiness of 
France, had he only been able to govern his passions. 

But a heavier blow was still in store for La Fayette. 
His wife, his best friend, his faithful and heroic com- 
panion, adorned with every virtue ; pious, modest, 
generous and faithful ; affectionate, yet firm, and 
gentle, yet resolved 5 indulgent to others, yet severe 
towards herse< f-— Madame La Fayette at length sunk 
under her misfortunes, and was torn from the arms 
of her husband at an age when she had every reason 
to expect many years of happiness in store. * 

* She died on the 24th December, 1807, in the 47th year of her 
ag€. 



304 MEMOIRS OF 

Two Austrian monsters thus brought to an untimely 
grave, a woman, who was at once the soul of her nu- 
merous family, the support of the poor, the consola- 
tion of the afflicted, the ornament of iier country, and 
the honour of her sex. 

Reason and philosophy supported La Fayette and 
his children under their afflictions, and his grand- 
children and great grandchildren continue to bless 
heaven for having preserved his life. La Fayette 
was ever consistent, and maintained, unimpaired, 
the dignity of his character, under all reverses of 
fortune. He at once possessed the confidence of the 
National Guard, which he established and com- 
manded, and the esteem of the nation, who regard- 
ed his conduct as a model of genuine patriotism, at 
the same time that he obtained the unqualified re- 
spect of the friends of liberty, wherever they were 
found. His talent of gaining all affections, and of uni- 
ting all hearts, seemed a peculiar privilege, bestow- 
ed on him by nature. His friends and foes equally 
admired him ; the inhabitants of the two worlds re- 
spected, and revered him. To a youthful, dig- 
nified, and agreeable exterior, he joins manners at 
once unaffected, popular and attractive. He pos- 
sessed all that was necessary to commence and to 
j direct the course of a revolution, all the brilliancy of 
military activity, with all that assured and tranquil 
courage, so essential at the crisis of public commo- 
tions. La Fayette would have been competent io 



LA FAYETTE. 305 

every thing, if every thing had been conducted 
openly and honourably, but he abhorred and des- 
pised the dark paths of intrigue. * 

Such is La Fayette, the hero, the legislator, the 
philosopher. He wished, before he died to see 
again the country of his heart ; and that country 
is at once happy and proud to possess him, and 
to honour iiini according to his merits, as mortal 
was never honoured before. For here, the land 
of true and genuine liberty, there is no one whose 
commands can compel the citizens of this free coun- 
try to prepare illuminations, festivals, and cere- 
monious parades, as is done by the autocrats of 
that infamous alliance, the tyrants who reign over 
nations of slaves. No ! what we have lately 
seen, is a free, spontaneous, and impetuous burst 
of aflection from the hearts of ten millions of 
grateful freemen, rushing forward impatiently to 
meet him, and to offer him the purest and most pre- 
cious homage that a nation can bestow, the homage 
of the heart, that homage that the impotent sove- 
reigns of Europe would vainly attempt to extort. 
From one extremity of the union to the other, but 
one cry is heard. Welcome La Fayette! and La Fay- 
ette is welcome for ever! 



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